Hope is Alive 'Because Tisa Is Remembered'

Remember Tisa Sutcliffe and help spread hope for a cure to brain tumors.

A lifelong East Haven resident, Tisa was born on Sept. 24, 1969. She attended school in town and eventually married and raised three sons, who are now teenagers - Ryan, 17, Austin, 15, and Tristan, 13.

On May 7, 2004 - seven years ago to the day - after numerous treatments and three surgeries, Tisa lost her life to Aniplastic Mixed Glioma (a brain tumor). She was 34.

To celebrate her life and facilitate brain tumor research at Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Neurosurgery, every year since 2005 her family holds a benefit, “Because Tisa is Remembered,” at St. George’s Church on Whitfield Street in Guilford. Each year, the benefit has raised in excess of $10,000 for research to find the cause of brain tumors, and a cure. The benefit will take place in September.

This year, Tisa’s mom, Jayne Kubek, and Tisa’s sister, Pilar, decided to do even more to remember Tisa and help fund brain tumor research through “Flocking” people with pink flamingos.

The flamingo flocks are delivered by request to your lawn, for a $10 donation. They are removed for $10 and the person who has been flocked supplies the name and address of the next person that they’d like to flock. A sign accompanies the flock that says You’ve Been Flocked, “Because Tisa Is Remembered.”

If any East Haven residents are interested in being flocked or would like to donate to brain tumor research in remembrance of Tisa, you can contact Jayne at 203-467-8528.