Mary Ellen Rybak, M.D. 63, Thousand Oaks, CA and Princeton, NJ passed away at home suddenly on July 20. Beloved wife of Thomas Griffin, M.D. for thirty-seven years, Dr. Rybak was a senior medical researcher specializing in hematology and oncology. She worked in cancer research and new drug development in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry for over thirty years. A graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo, NY and Harvard Medical School, she was formerly Vice President, Oncology at Johnson & Johnson in Raritan, NJ; Chief Medical Officer of Genitope Corporation in Fremont, CA; and most recently Vice President of p53 Inc. of Houston. TX.

Born in Buffalo, NY, Dr. Rybak was predeceased in death by her parents, Joseph and Marie Rybak. In addition to her husband, Dr. Griffin, she is survived by her uncle, Leo Rybak of Depew, NY, an aunt, Joan Ansbrow Rockwitz of Darien Center, NY, brothers and sisters-in-law Peter and Mary Ellen Griffin of Colts Neck, NJ, Kathleen and Thomas McGuinness of Needham, MA, Marilyn Begley of Freehold, NJ and many nieces and nephews to whom she was devoted.

Visitation will be held at the Kimble Funeral Home, One Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ on July 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul's RC Church, Princeton, July, 31 at 10 a.m., followed by interment at Princeton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.