M. CHRISTINA A private memorial service will be held in Henderson, Nevada, on February 21, 2012 for M. Christina Tomlinson, nee Christina Soulias, age 90, formerly of Rio Rancho, who passed away on January 13, 2012. Christina was born to first generation immigrants Anthony and Maria Soulias on February 23, 1921 in New York, New York. She attended Wadleigh High School in Harlem, graduating in 1939. She won a highly coveted scholarship to the Dramatic Workshop of the New School for Social Research, where she became a student of, and then assistant to, Herbert Berghof. While working as Mr. Berghof's assistant, she pursued a career as an actress performing in roles both on and off Broadway. She was a member of the USO during World War II. On December 1, 1951, she married Harry Tomlinson, a young entrepreneur, and in 1958, they moved to Havana, Cuba, to start a new business and raise their family. Although she spoke no Spanish upon arrival in Cuba, she became fluent during her three years on the island. As a result of the Cuban Revolution, the Tomlinsons were forced to leave Cuba. They moved to Lakeland, Florida, and then to Portage, Michigan. In 1960, Christina's husband, who worked in public relations for Upjohn Pharmaceuticals, took a one year international assignment and the family moved to Mexico City, after which they returned to Michigan. Christina obtained her bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 1969 and her Master's in Communication Arts and Sciences in 1973. She taught Spanish for several years in Michigan before moving to Rio Rancho in 1980, where she was a substitute teacher for APS. In order to be with her youngest daughter, Christina moved to Denver in 2005 and to Henderson in 2007. Throughout her life Christina loved the theatre, reading, travel, teaching, and her family. She will be sorely missed. Christina Tomlinson is survived by daughters Maggie Carter and Alice T. Lorenz of Albuquerque, and Christina M. Tomlinson of Henderson; son-in-laws, Pete Rannells and Dennis Lorenz; granddaughters Samantha M. Lorenz, McKenzie A. Lorenz and Corryn A. Tomlinson; godson Tony Ryanczak; and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Harry J. Tomlinson; brother, Christopher Soulias; and sister, Georgia Callas. Christina's oldest sister, Anna Ryanczak, passed away within days of Christina's death.
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