Mary Beth Sola

Mary Beth Sola (nee Levine) was born in Evanston, Illinois on May 13, 1946 to parents Elizabeth “Betty” (nee Penglase) and Donald Levine. She grew up in Ishpeming, Michigan. She attended Northern Michigan University as an undergrad and the University of Illinois at Champagne Urbana for her masters in social work. She met her husband to be, Peter Sola very soon after moving to the U of l. They were married in 1969.

They moved to the east coast, initially living in Laurel, MD, but soon they found their way to her beloved Berrypick Lane in Columbia, MD where they raised their 2 children. Around 1982, Mary Beth began to work for the newly opened Hilton in Columbia. She worked in the accounting department until retirement in 2019.

Berrypick Lane was a community where she met and forged many lasting friendships. From her monthly bridge nights to neighborhood picnics each summer holiday. They moved to their current house in 1989, but Berrypick Lane friendships endured.

Mary Beth was a force to be reckoned with. From advocating for her son when he was young, at a time when it was not understood that some learn differently. To chauffeuring both children to their many activities. To quietly volunteering at schools, extra curricular activities. She made sure they lacked for nothing.

She was ecstatic to become a Grandma, her most cherished job. Julia, the first, and her had a very special bond. She was very aware of this and tried so hard to love on the other three to ensure they knew how special they each were to her. She delighted in attending many of the activities with Julia and Joseph that living so close afforded her. And she was always trying to get to Virginia so Mai and Abby would feel her presence. She was always up for a game with her grandkids. Never letting them win, but graciously funny when they beat her. Cribbage, backgammon, rummy, war, and dominoes were always favorites.

She and Peter would take the family on extraordinary trips, making memories for the whole family from Disney World to London and Paris. Summer vacations all together at Deep Creek Lake was definitely her favorite week of the year. She looked forward to quiet time on the dock with her sister along with the hot tub and a wine cooler. Watching the kids ski and tube by the dock. Playing games and reading. Having her whole family together for dinner each night. Sitting around the fire pit making s’mores.

The annual trips to Toby’s Dinner Theater for a holiday show has helped forge a love for the arts in her grandchildren. She had a special bond with Brian, affectionately teaching his kids to call him a troublemaker and that shaking the lemonade was the right way!!

She enjoyed meeting her friends at The Bagel Bin each Sunday. She was an avid reader and conversationalist, loving to hear about her friends' families and lives and partaking in book club. She frequently met her friends at The Columbia Film Society, though usually she took a nap! Mary Beth was content at home but when you caught her out shopping she almost always ran into someone she knew. She enjoyed staying up to date on current events and engaging in political conversations. She attended the 2017 Women’s March in Washington and wrote postcards for Democratic candidates in Virginia in 2020.

Mary Beth is survived by her husband of 53 years Peter; son Christopher and his children Julia and Joseph and their mother Anne Reed, daughter Rachel (Brian) Kubin and their children Mai and Abby Kubin, sister Carol (Dominic) Sarvello, brother-in-law John, niece Elizabeth (Renato) Jamett and nephew David (Kim) Sarvello. She is predeceased by her mother and father and countless aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers and to honor her memory and help support research into brain cancer we are asking for donations in her name be made to the brain tumor network. https://nbtsevents.braintumor.org/MaryBethSola

A celebration of life to be held later in the spring.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.witzkefuneralhomes.com for the Sola family.