Allison "Virostek" Hopkins

Allison Esther Virostek Hopkins, longtime resident of Worcester, member of the Webster Lake community, and former resident of Berlin, Conn., died peacefully in her home, embraced in the love of her family, on July 22, 2025. Born April 21,1965, to Carol R. and Paul A. Virostek, of Berlin, she lived a life full of adventure and the joys of friendship and family.

Allison attended Griswold Elementary School, where a second-grade poetry writing workshop, held by her beloved teacher, Lu-Anne Bates, sparked a love of poetry and writing throughout her life. After attending McGee Middle School, where she played clarinet in the band, Allison attended Berlin High School. There she joined the marching band and competed as a four-year varsity athlete in track and cross country, placing in almost every track meet and briefly holding the school record for the 1500 meter event.

At about age 5, she learned to ski and developed a lifelong passion for the sport. Her love of skiing led to enrolling at Plymouth State College (now University), near New Hampshire's White Mountains. Majoring in English literature and writing, Allison spent a memorable semester abroad in London, where she studied Brit lit and enjoyed the live theater scene. She graduated magna cum laude.

During college she met her first husband, Paul Pfosi. They had two children together, Zachary and Isaac, before divorcing in 2005. In March of 2006 she met the love of her life, Charles Hopkins. The couple eloped in September 2007 and held a wedding celebration on Martha's Vineyard in June 2008. At that time she became a mother to four bonus children, Heidi, Amie, Christopher, and Hope.

Allison pursued several career paths. After college, she became a reporter/photographer for Plymouth's weekly newspaper, The Record Citizen, and then for the Blackstone Valley Tribune in Whitinsville, Mass. She also worked for the Town of Douglas and the Town of Ashland, before taking a marketing position with CME Associates, a small engineering firm in Woodstock, Conn. In 2010, she began a long stint at another firm, Tetra Tech, as a marketing specialist, and then proposal manager. In between working for the two companies, Allison studied massage, polarity therapy, and the art and science of herbal therapy.

During her time at Tetra Tech, Allison was encouraged by a coworker to join the ski racing league at Wachusett Mountain, making many friends there. In her 50s, she competed in the NASTAR recreational league's 2017 national championships in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, notching a first place victory in the giant slalom platinum category of people aged 25-90 and taking second place the following year. She also participated in the Girls Do Ski backcountry touring camp out of Revelstoke near Banff, Canada. This bucket-list trip included skiing out of Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park along the Avalanche Highway. Allison got her Avalanche Level One training at Mt. Washington. To stay in shape for skiing, she took up cycling, and enjoyed many years riding a road bike and a mountain bike.

Allison and her husband, Charlie, spent many summer weeks on Martha's Vineyard, always going to their favorite beach in Aquinnah. The couple also traveled often to California to attend the Power to the Peaceful festival and spend time at Harbin Hot Springs.

Allison's diagnosis of ALS in 2023 not only failed to diminish her passion for life, it led to further accomplishments. She continued to ski using adaptive equipment and was supported by a donation from U.S. Ski Team superstar and World Cup GOAT Mikaela Shiffrin, who told Allison she was inspiring. Allison was the impetus for the creation of a nonprofit foundation, Bad Allie's Adaptive Snow Sports, which provides scholarships to enable others to participate in adaptive skiing. Allison also began making art as a way to spend her time creatively and productively and to express herself both artistically and emotionally. Among the pictures and cards she made for friends and family are the special ones she made for each of her grandchildren, depicting their favorite animal or special interest. Her watercolor artwork, typically featuring complex patterns and a talent for colors, was shown in an exhibit at Worcester's White Room called "Celebrate: The Joy of Tenacity." Her art was also part of a digital exhibit called "Artists of ALS."

Always an activist for peace and social justice, Allie became an advocate for ALS research, raising awareness and money to benefit people with the disease and to help find a cure.

Allison was predeceased by her mother, Carol Virostek. She leaves behind her beloved husband and devoted caregiver, Charles; her children Zachary Pfosi and wife Sabrina, Isaac Pfosi and wife Minji, Heidi Enea and husband Gabriel, Amie Egbuniwe, Christopher Hopkins and wife Ashley, and Hope Labonty; along with grandchildren Nailah, Genevieve, Stella, Luca, Ferryn, Emory, Violet, and Elliot. Also mourning her loss are her father, Paul Virostek, sister Leslie Virostek and husband John Cobb, her sister-in-spirit Eva Merriam, and many aunts, uncles, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Allison leaves a host of devoted friends who brought her joy for her entire life and provided loving care and support during her illness.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, July 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster Street, Worcester. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Compassionate Care ALS of Falmouth; P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574; or to Bad Allie's Adaptive Snow Sports (on Facebook).