In hushed tones in a hallway of Rombout Middle School (RMS) this week, some students said they saw teachers gathered discussing something, most likely fellow teacher Ms. Thomaselli, the students speculated, as some adults began to cry. Students surmised that perhaps Ms. Thomaselli was passing soon. Ms. Thomaselli was battling cancer, the students said. There was the Thomaselli Tough Roller Derby scheduled for March 8, 2024 that just got featured in the RMS newsletter.

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, Beacon School District Superintendent Matt Landahl emailed district families: “We are very sad to share the news with the community that Erika Thomaselli passed away earlier today. Erika was a teacher at Rombout Middle School and a coach at Rombout and Beacon High School over the past 10 years. We all consider it an honor to have worked with her. It was an honor for her students to have her as a teacher or a coach. She was truly an amazing person.”

After giving birth to her 4th child, Erika was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroendocrine carcinoma. In July 2023, her sister created a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for the medical bills that would quickly accrue. She underwent treatments that challenged her physically. Her sister wrote: “Neuroendocrine carcinoma is an aggressive adversary, and it has already taken a toll on my sister's health. The journey ahead will be arduous, and she has already undergone back surgery to address the significant damage the cancer has caused to her spine. Yet, through it all, she remains resolute and steadfast, determined to beat the odds stacked against her.”

More information about her diagnosis and treatment can be found in her GoFundMe campaign page, which is still accepting donations. The Beacon community is mourning.