Thomas Peter Rybak

Port Jervis, NY

Mr. Thomas Peter Rybak of Port Jervis, NY died Sunday, May 9, 2010 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 58.

He was born December 2, 1951 in Port Jervis, NY, the son of Peter and Antoinette Masanotti Rybak.

Tom was the owner of Tri State Staffing in Port Jervis along with his good friend Mark Seasholtz.

He attended Gannon College in Erie, PA. He was a proud member of Alpha Phi Delta fraternity.

Tom began his career as a chef learning and working in many of the finest Italian restaurants in Erie. He became heiress Doris Duke's private chef for three years and later worked as a private chef for many of the most influential investment advisors on Wall Street. He counted many of those investment advisors as current clients in the staffing company Tom founded, Tri State Domestic. Tom and his good friend Mark Seasholtz have continued Tri State Domestic ever since.

Tom also founded and operated the Yellow Brick Road record shop in Port Jervis in the early 1970's. He was a staunch Dallas Cowboy fan.

He was a four-year member of AA and credited the program with changing his life and sincerely appreciated the members supporting him throughout his illness. Tom also wanted people to know that he felt the care and treatment he received by the doctors and nurses at Bon Secours Community Hospital was second to none.

Tom knew himself to be a miracle and believed that you make miracles happen by praying, believing, working and helping others.

Survivors include his mother, Antoinette Rybak of Matamoras, PA; brother, Nicholas Rybak and his wife, Connie of Erie, PA; uncles, John Rybak of Port Jervis and John Sigreto of Matamoras, PA; aunts, Katherine Rybak of Port Jervis and Anna Fortino and her husband, Dan of Ridgewood, NJ; good friend, Mark Seasholtz and his wife, Brooke of Milford, PA; many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Peter and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Friends may call at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 E. Main St., Port Jervis on Thursday, May 13, from 6-7 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Jervis.

Memorial contributions may be made to D.A.R.E., 20 Hammond St., Port Jervis, NY 12771.

Arrangements by Gray-Parker Funeral Home; 845-856-5191. For additional information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit www.grayparkerfuneralhome.com.