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.
Visits: 4310
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors