Anastasia Mitch Mae Gumbel

Anastasia Mae Gumbel

Catonsville MD

12/28/05–2/3/24

Age 18

 

Our beloved Anastasia Mae (Mitch) Gumbel passed from this Earth on February 3, 2024 after a 

long battle with mental illness. She is survived by her adoring and devoted parents, James and

Nancy Gumbel, precious siblings Grant and Francesca, and her Nonna, Bobbie Prestianni.

Also surviving are her Aunt Julie Mitchell, Uncle Jack Mitchell, Aunt Liz Gumbel, Uncle Paul

and Aunt Shauna Gumbel, Uncle Bob and Aunt Rachel Gumbel, Uncle Viktor and Aunt Angie

Kinderis, Uncle David and Aunt Kathy Gumbel, and Uncle Dave and Aunt Miriam Gumbel.

Anastasia is survived by her cousins, friends and classmates, Andrew, Amelia, Molly, and

Sophia, as well as cousins Derek and Jessi Jeffries, Trevor Gumbel, Amy Gumbel, Nick and

Sheeba Wolfley, Anthony Gumbel, Tyler and Nicole Flinn, Kristoff and Tabitha Carlson, Robert

Anderson, Steven Gumbel, Casey Black, and Roty and Sarah Kpa. Anastasia was

predeceased by her Poppop, Sam Prestianni, her Grandfather, John Patrick (JP) Mitchell,

Grandparents Paul and Kathy Gumbel (Seattle WA), her Uncle Rick Gumbel, Uncle Charles

Gumbel, and her Cousin Matt Gumbel.

Anastasia was musically gifted, beautiful, incredibly generous, and brilliant in both mind and

spirit. She was strong in body, ambition, determination, and drive. She would light up a room

with her “larger than life” presence. Anastasia was a loving daughter, sister, cousin,

granddaughter, niece, and friend. She was especially proud of her sister and brother and their

accomplishments.

Anastasia loved to sing and was an absolute natural onstage. She liked to perform at an early

age, once singing loudly to a plane full of people when she was 3! She thrilled family, friends,

and audiences with her performances in numerous plays and musicals including: Little

Mermaid, Peter Pan (Cecco), HONK (Ida), Alice in Wonderland (Queen of Hearts), Wizard of Oz

(Dorothy), You Can’t Take it With You (Tony Kirby), Mary Poppins (Mr. Banks), Rumors (Lenny

Ganz), Broadway’s Frozen (Olaf), Mean Girls (Damian), and Dipsy the Dinosaur (Assistant

Director). Even as a young girl, Anastasia’s voice was so shockingly strong and beautiful that

her Dad traveled with her twice to New York City for America’s Got Talent open auditions.

Anastasia was not only gifted in music performance, but in composition as well. She wrote many

of her own songs, accompanying herself on ukulele and piano, and had written an original

musical which she was orchestrating.

Anastasia attended St. Mark School in Catonsville from pre-K to 8th grade. She was blessed to

grow up on the same street as her cousins for a time. She was a strong swimmer, starting at an

early age with the Watermont Swim Team, and later working as a Junior Coach and Lifeguard.

One special swim day stands out, when as a little girl, she broke the pool record in backstroke.

Anastasia attended The Catholic High School of Baltimore on a full scholarship, and was

awarded Freshman of the Year in 2021. She attended Long Reach High School starting in

2022, where she was lovingly known as Mitch. There, she was a member of the Tri M Music

Honor Society and the Thespian Society, was active in theater productions, and continued to

excel in academics. Anastasia won 3 awards her very first year at LRHS: the Technology Award,

the Choir Award, and the Principal’s Award (given to only 2 students from each grade.)

Anastasia (Mitch) made wonderful friends at LRHS who shared her love of music and theater.

Anastasia was a finalist for a full ride music scholarship to UMBC. She was awarded merit

scholarships from both Towson and UMBC, and had been accepted into the Honors Program at

UMD. Anastasia was planning to travel to Greece in June, after working diligently to pay for the

trip herself. She made us very proud.

Some treasured family memories include trips to Disney, NYC, trips to Washington state to visit

the Gumbels, and a family trip to Mexico. Beach vacations to OC and the Outer Banks with

Uncle “Jackie”, Nonna, Aunt Jul, and the cousins are remembered with joy. There, the children

would jump in the waves together and sing to the ocean.

We will miss our beautiful, talented, brilliant Anastasia for the rest of our lives. Our hearts are

broken and our minds are searching. We will cling to our memories and the joy she brought us.

We will let her bright light guide us forever through this achingly beautiful and painful journey

called Life.

In life Anastasia Mitch Mae Gumbel loved helping others, especially their siblings. 

A special go fund me has been established so that others can help them to honor their spirit.

https://gofund.me/d8042874