Dear Alumni:
Summer has just begun and it is time once again to reserve that special social day on our Alumni calendar. I hope you will be able to attend this year’s Social Fun Day scheduled for Saturday September 14th. The school has set Saturday the 14th for our get together and the doors will be open early for our benefit. Alumni may begin arriving for the day at 11:00 A.M. and stay until 5:00 P.M. The Alumni Board, in our last meeting, agreed to go with Marge’s catering as folks seemed satisfied with their service in the past Fun Day events. The cost will be $8.00 per person. Please send checks no later than September 7th to Joanna Berkovic. The Board has asked to use the main building as well for the Fun Day’s activity and the school has agreed.
Many of you are aware the school has constructed an Urban Trail which you will read about in this bulletin. The plans are to have the trail open for Alumni to explore and get an in depth understanding of the thought process that was involved with this endeavor.
Please remember that in order for Alumni to keep in touch with our yearly bulletin address change is important. Please notify Joanna Berkovic via phone when possible so that corrections to our list of members will be accurate. Her phone number is (412-683-1798). Those who change email providers may inform Ted Crum of email information via the computer. His email address is mtcrum@verizon.net. I hope you will enjoy the reading provided in this year’s bulletin and look forward to seeing all of you at our Social beginning at 11:00 that morning. Finally members should plan to leave the school by 5:00 that afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you Saturday September 14.
Sincerely,
President Tom Hesley
Marking a Remarkable Year
Commemorating Our 125th
Celebrating our 125th anniversary has provided the School an opportunity to look back at our storied past with great pride, while continuing to build on our successes for an even brighter future for the hundreds of students with visual impairment we serve annually from throughout western Pennsylvania.
This school year, the School for Blind Children infused commemorations of the anniversary throughout our educational, residential and outreach programs. From birthday celebrations and dance parties to educational symposiums and community engagement, the entire School community found ways to mark this special milestone in our history. We hope you enjoy this edition of Insights, which highlights some of these memorable moments.
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear Friends,
If I had to describe the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in one word, it would have to be dynamic.
For 125 years, our School has continuously evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of a special population of students who require and deserve specialized instructional services to reach their full potential. At our founding in 1887, students’ education focused on blending academics with vocational training while today our enrolled pupils are provided with a highly individualized life skills curriculum complimented by intensive therapeutic and medical services.
The School has endured and thrived, in large part, due to our ability to respond to our community’s needs. And although we are at the end of the 2011/12 school year, planning for the future is at the forefront as we begin to develop our organization’s next
Strategic Plan, as well as applying for re-accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
As a friend and stakeholder of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, I invite you to share your ideas and thoughts. You can contact me at reevest@wpsbc.org or call 412-621-0100.
Thank you. Your continued support and encouragement will help us maintain momentum into the next 125 years.
Sincerely,
Todd S. Reeves
Thank you to the following organizations that have made significant gifts for the Urban Trail:
- Bannerot-Lappe Foundation
- Bayer USA Foundation
- Jack Buncher Foundation
- Eden Hall Foundation
- Hilda M. Willis Foundation
- Lions Club of Pittsburgh
- Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation
- PTO of the Western Pennsylvania
- School for Blind Children
- Snee-Reinhardt
- Charitable Foundation
- The Buhl Foundation
- The Grable Foundation
- The Pittsburgh Foundation
You can make your gift using the enclosed envelope, by visiting our website: www.wpsbc.org, or by contacting the Office of Institutional Advancement at 412.621.0100 or prittsj@wpsbc.org.
Two Members Added to the Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of new members, Joseph C. Wassermann & Gabrielle R. Bonhomme, M.D.
Mr. Joseph C. Wassermann is an alumnus of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and the University of Pittsburgh. In September of 1960, he began his employment at the School for Blind Children where he taught an array of academic courses to generations of our students for 31 years. Mr. Wassermann is also adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh, serves on the City/County Task Force on Disabilities and is chair of the Advisory Council for the Blind of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Gabrielle R. Bonhomme is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at UPMC Eye Center. She received her baccalaureate degree from the George Washington University and her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Named the 2011 University of Pittsburgh Medical School Clinical Educator of the Year, Dr. Bonhomme is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society.
Again congratulations to Joe Wasserman.
Urban Trail Dedication
Ceremony marks the opening of the new campus pathway designed for both recreational and training purposes
Hundreds of spectators cheered on three-year-old Thomas Kovacs as he made his way up to the front of the crowd. Carrying a symbolic torch the last leg of its journey, he lightly tapped it onto the fountain, saw and felt the water begin to flow, thereby officially dedicating the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children’s new Urban Trail.
A new pupil in WPSBC’s preschool program, Tommy was one of three people chosen to take part in the torch relay along the Urban Trail to represent the School’s past, present and future students. More than 600 people turned out on the beautiful fall day to celebrate the unveiling of our newest campus highlight, constructed in honor of the School’s 125th anniversary.
Designed as an outdoor instructional space, the Urban Trail begins with a tactile map located at the back entrance of the School and connects to the front lawn. It features numerous custom-made components along the route for our students to explore, enjoy and experience. From an audible cross walk to learn safe-street crossing to an outdoor gazebo big enough to fit an entire class, sensory garden and wheelchair accessible swing set, the Urban Trail was specifically developed for our students with sensory impairments as they learn to navigate outdoors using either a white cane or wheelchair.
The concept originated with the School’s Certified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Instructors, who envisioned a way to maximize on-campus instruction before embarking on the less-protected realm of mobility training on Pittsburgh’s streets and sidewalks. The overall goals of the project include helping boys and girls meet educational goals, promoting independent travel, improving concept development, encouraging exploration of the environment and increasing students’ self-determination for social and recreational activities.
But the day’s dedication event was all about celebration. Attendees, including students and their families, staff, members of the Board of Trustees, donors, neighbors and local dignitaries, mingled and explored the Trail while entertained by local rhythm and blues band, “Five Guys Named Moe,” (three of the “five guys” are WPSBC alumni). The program also included the gold medal presentation of the School’s paralympic winners who on the day prior, raced along the Urban Trail in the competition’s final heats.
Funded through the generosity of individuals, service clubs, corporate and foundation donors, the Urban Trail will help smooth the path to independence for not only our current students, but for future generations of youngsters with visual impairment served by the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.
Letting Her Light Shine
‘Illuminating’ Teacher Receives National Recognition
Congratulations to Linda Almasy-Hohmann, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC) certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired, for being awarded the 2012 “Outstanding Teacher of Students who are Blind/Multiply Impaired” by the Principals of the Schools for the Blind (POSB) organization.
Each year, POSB recognizes remarkable individuals from around the nation who work with students with visual impairments. Linda received her prize on Wednesday, October 10 in Louisville, Kentucky at the yearly meeting of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH).
Linda has dedicated her entire professional life to helping students with visual impairment. Since 1992, she has worked at the School for Blind Children where she has taught students of all ages. Known for her inspirational and engaging teaching methods, Linda’s infectious smile and utmost respect for her students have enamored her to both her colleagues and parents of her students. “I make the analogy of a teacher being a lantern. I am a lantern in a student’s life, lighting the pathway,” said Hohmann in her award acceptance remarks.
“During the past twenty years at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, I have had the marvelous opportunity to be a lantern to students and their families. I hope to help light their pathway as they seek the best for their child, and to believe that there will be lanterns along each step of the way to guide them,” said Hohmann.
And with her extensive expertise and seemingly endless patience and enthusiasm, students thrive under her instructional guidance. “Her impact on our students and their families is difficult to measure or put into words, but a national award is a fitting tribute to her life’s work,” said Todd Reeves, Executive Director/Superintendent of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.
A Peek Inside “A Child’s VIEW”
Recognizing the many advantages of an inclusive child care environment, the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children introduced an integrated child care program in 2012 that blends young children with visual impairments with sighted typically developing peers.
A Child’s VIEW: Vision In Extraordinary Ways Early Childhood Center is located on the Oakland campus of the School and provides comprehensive, blended child care for children with or without visual impairments ages 6 weeks to 5 years. This one-of-a-kind program is specifically designed to benefit all children, no matter their ability level or sensory challenges.
For more information on A Child’s VIEW, visit our website: www.wpsbc.org or contact
Dr. Rebecca Renshaw, Center Director, at 412-621-0100 or email renshawr@wpsbc.org.
Recipe for Success
Comprehensive Nutritional Services
As any parent can attest, persuading a child to eat their meal can sometimes require a herculean effort. Notoriously picky eaters, kids need a well-balanced diet to have enough energy to learn, play and grow. But for students with special needs, like those who attend the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC), mealtime can be exponentially challenging.
In addition to their visual impairment, our enrolled students have other complex medical and sensory conditions that can affect their ability to maintain a healthy diet. Some kids can’t swallow normally or have restricted movements that make even lifting a fork to their mouth difficult. Others have allergies, require feeding tubes or take medications that interact with food. Many of our students who need a wheelchair for mobility don’t burn enough calories and gain weight easily; while some can’t seem to consume enough calories to maintain their weight.
The considerations, adaptations and modifications necessary to safely feed all of our students can seem endless. Mealtime is a collaborative, behind-the-scenes effort that includes goal setting, data tracking and support services that are meticulously planned and supervised by a multi-disciplinary team of educational, therapeutic, healthcare and dietary professionals.
Overseeing this intricately orchestrated process, the School’s Dietary Department staff serves up to three customized meals and two snacks daily for nearly 180 enrolled students. Not only must they adhere to strict federal and state guidelines, but they further tailor meals to address our unique youngsters’ needs, preferences and restrictions.
Take for example, Early Childhood Department student Evan Foster. In some ways he’s just like any other eight-year-old boy. He’d rather be playing or riding his adapted tricycle than sitting down to eat. But, in addition to being visually impaired, Evan has cerebral palsy which affects his oral motor skills and muscle tone. His condition results in him burning more calories than his typically developing peers and he is unable to coordinate the thirty muscles and eight cranial nerves necessary to chew and swallow safely.
Evan’s personalized meal tray consists of pureed food freshly prepared on-site and thickened juice because the consistency is easier for him to manage and consume. He gets pudding, extra butter and sauces to add preferred taste and calories to each mouthful since he struggles with maintaining a healthy weight.
“Eating is by far the biggest challenge of Evan’s day,” explains his Instructor Kathy Buclous.
“We have to be creative and find ways to ensure he gets the energy he needs to thrive.”
Attention to detail is critical. Led by Chef John Coglio, dietary staff further tailors each child’s tray with adapted utensils, plates, bowls and cups if necessary. Positioning practices, behavioral supports, communication considerations and visual needs are also incorporated into feeding strategies by our staff members. Student Meal Planner Cindy Howcroft has worked at the School for 28 years and has the task of ensuring that each tray is assembled correctly. Her experience and dedication is evident as she can recite students’ mealtime specifications most of the time from memory. “Out of our 178 students, only five have identical trays,” she notes.
Managing nutritional services for children with complex medical needs requires strict and thorough organization to ensure accuracy. An online mealtime plan system developed by school technology personnel, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, nurses and dietary staff, houses the hundreds of details incorporated into students’ feeding plans. The system generates tray cards outlining student specifications that dietary staff members refer to when assembling trays.
Creating a mealtime recipe for success is a goal for all our students. For some kids, like Evan, the goal is focused on ensuring proper nutrition. For others, educational objectives such as self-feeding skills, appropriate social behavior or expanding to new foods or textures might be among their goals. But keeping our students safe and ensuring they are in the best condition possible to learn is always an overarching priority.
Food for Thought
An Educational Approach for Mealtime
Working together, the members of our students’ educational teams provide unparalleled support and instruction for our special boys and girls. Educational teams consist of a certified teacher of the visually impaired, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech and language pathologist, orientation and mobility instructor, behavior support specialist, nurse and para-educators. Following what is referred to as an “integrated service delivery model,” students’ therapies are incorporated into their everyday school activities. Stop by the dining rooms at lunch and you will observe not just mealtime but an opportunity for a physical therapist to help a student improve his balance when sitting in a chair while an occupational therapist assists another child learning to use a fork.
What some of our Team Members are looking for during mealtime
Occupational Therapist: Looks at student’s positioning, recommends adapted utensils and focuses on fine motor skill development.
Speech Language Pathologist: Evaluates how a student manages the food in their mouth to encourage safe swallowing practices.
Teacher of the Visually Impaired: Assesses student’s ability to visually locate food and utensils and if necessary, suggests adaptations.
School Nutritionist: Reviews overall health content of the menu according the National School Lunch Program and provides individual consultations for students and their families.
Behavior Specialists: Promotes appropriate meal-time manners and discourages disruptive behaviors.
A Powerful Partnership
Providing Support to Strengthen Families
This summer is a busy time for the Read Family of Harrison City as they celebrate two important commencements. Daughter Stephanie, 21, is graduating from the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (WPSBC) while her sibling, eighteen-year old Rachel will receive her diploma from Penn-Trafford High School. The next few months will be a bittersweet time as their parents, Ruth and Bob, plan for the next steps in both of their daughters’ lives.
Navigating uncharted territory is nothing new for the Reads. Their lifestyle has been far from typical. Both working parents, Ruth and Bob grappled at times to maintain a healthy family balance while spending a considerable amount of time in and out of hospital and doctors’ appointments for Stephanie. Born with complex health and developmental challenges, Stephanie is legally blind, cannot vocalize and has limited movement of her body.
But even with the most meticulous planning, managing the demands of a child with special needs along with those of the rest of the family can be tricky, to say the least.
Along with son Brian, this tight knit family of five found some peace of mind throughout this unexpected journey by leaning on support from the School for Blind Children.
“After our first visit, I just knew it was the right place for her,” said Mrs. Read. “There was a great comfort in what you do and how you do it,” she added.
Stephanie was enrolled in 1995 at the age of three as a day student. Within a few years, the 45 minute to an hour daily commute back and forth to School became too difficult for Stephanie to withstand. After long deliberation, the Reads concluded it was best to have Stephanie begin participating in the School’s Residential Program, where students spend the week on campus and return home to rejoin family for weekends and breaks.
Working together with the Reads for the past eighteen years, the staff at WPSBC has aimed to contribute to the family’s balance by providing the individualized education, therapies and recreation Stephanie needed to be learning as much as she could, remain healthy and enjoy herself during the week. This partnership helped to create a new kind of family balance, allowing the Reads to worry less about Stephanie and focus as well on the well-being of every member of the family.
“The best thing we ever did for our family was enrolling Stephanie at the School for Blind Children,” said Mrs. Read. “It’s the most wonderful place for her. The exposure to the arts, music and extra support services are incomparable.”
Sharing some of the responsibilities for Stephanie’s care is a privilege for the School and helped provide the family some flexibility. School staff members’ concentration of expertise also served as a resource and sounding board for the family throughout the years as they pursued various medical and therapeutic interventions and treatments for Stephanie.
Keeping the lines of communication open has been one of the keys to the success for the Read’s school/parent partnership. Families of our Residential students and school staff regularly share emails, phone calls, or even Skype face-to-face online to maintain contact. “Our goal is to ensure that Stephanie was not disconnected from her family life when she came to school, but rather that each environment becomes an extension of one another,” said Maryanne Loebig, Health Services and Residential Night Director. Stephanie’s father Bob says it’s the engaging, familial atmosphere at WPSBC that helps ease the weekly transition from home to school. “When we walk in and the way staff greets her, it’s like she’s one of their family and that makes you feel really good,” said Mr. Read.
Recognizing that siblings often have the longest relationships with our students, the School’s commitment to families extends beyond just parents. Older brother Brian and younger sister Rachel have both participated in the School’s Sibshop program, a quarterly support service for brothers and sisters of our students. The whole family is often in attendance to support Stephanie at the School’s annual Holiday Program, Prom and other special events.
A great source of pride for Mr. and Mrs. Read is the unconditional bond that has developed between siblings. Especially strong is the relationship between Stephanie and her sister Rachel whose unspoken connection transcends words. “I love being there for her and I know she knows we’re here and we are all taking care of her,” said Rachel.
And although the next stage of their journey will undoubtedly bring them new challenges, a family bond that stays strong in tough times becomes impermeable.
Necrology 2013
Thanks to Joanna Berkovic for the Necrology Report
Richard Little class of 1960 died in October 2012
Eileen Sirocca class of 1966 died in November 2012
Joyce Teese former teacher and supervisor died in November 2012
Virginia Goulding former kindergarten teacher around 1954 died in November 2012
George Burge former student died in December 2012
Norm Anderson class of 1955 died in January 2013
The late Robert Flannigan’s daughter Dale died in January 2013
Karen Irvine Commardo class of 1973 died February 2013
President Tom Helsey class of 1979 lost his mother in February 2013
Jim Maley class of 1968 died in March 2013
Martha Osborne class of 1937 died in May 2013 and we believe she is our oldest member at the age 96
Regis Sullivan class of 1975 lost his brother in May 1013
Jim Davis class of 1966 died in June 2013
Alumni News in Brief
Anna Rose Smith class of 1974 became a grandmother recently for a 3rd time in June of 2013
Phillip Horrell class of 1950 retired after 56 years as a masseur
After 56 years, Popular Blind Masseur at Greensburg YMCA Retiring
By Nicole Chynoweth
The first time Keith Houser met YMCA masseur Phil Horrell, who is legally blind, Houser was awestruck by how little Horrell’s vision impairment affected him.
“I couldn’t believe he was so competent,” said Houser, 58, of Greensburg. “He can see without seeing.”
Houser was one of several Greensburg YMCA members who attended a luncheon for Horrell on Friday in the gymnasium to congratulate him on his retirement after 56 years of employment.
“Phil’s going to be missed,” said Houser, who has known Horrell for 25 years. “Many of the older members come to receive a rubdown from Phil. That’s why they come here. They don’t come here to work out. They come to get a rubdown to ease their pains and sore muscles two or three times a week, and it’s worth it to them for Phil to be here. It’s going to hurt when he’s gone.”
Horrell, 81, of Greensburg, came into his profession while working at the Association for the Blind in Pittsburgh.
“At lunchtime once, the director was going through different professions that blind people had gotten into, and he mentioned massage,” Horrell said. “He asked if I was interested, and I said, ‘Well, I think so,’ and he took that as a yes.”
Horrell’s director contacted the State Council for the Blind, who reached out to the Young Men’s Hebrew Association in Pittsburgh. The YMHA agreed to train Horrell as a masseur, and he started working in Greensburg in May 1957.
Since then, Horrell served nearly 100,000 people, appreciating the “camaraderie” he formed with many clients.
He enjoyed “the people and just the idea that maybe somehow I’m bringing comfort to somebody else,” Horrell said.
He said he decided to retire upon learning in January that his job would become part time.
At his retirement luncheon, Horrell enjoyed a buffet of sandwiches, drinks and cake with his coworkers, clients and friends.
“I’ve had good relationships with my members,” Horrell said. “They mean more to me than anything else.”
Horrell loves music. He belonged to the McKeesport Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society until it disbanded in 2008, and he now sings in a quartet with former chapter members. The group has several performances lined up for the fall at local rest homes, and they have promised to sing at each other’s funerals.
Horrell combined his two passions while working at the YMCA, often whistling and singing throughout the day.
“Music and the massage have been places for me to have an outlet for how I feel about people,” Horrell said.
Music was an important part of his appointments with Ernie DiMartino, 58, of Greensburg, who received massages from Horrell for approximately 14 years.
“I love the way he sings Sinatra,” DiMartino said. “I have a (Sinatra) CD that I keep in my locker. I put it in the CD player while he massages me. For the last 10 years we’ve been listening to Sinatra together, and he’s learned the words.”
The tunes served as a timer for Horrell.
“He actually would tell me, ‘I’m a little behind today’ because there are certain parts of my body that he would be working on during each song. How else is he going to tell time?” DiMartino said. “That’s how he would tell time.”
DiMartino, the president of DiMartino Ice Co. of Jeannette, has relied on Horrell to relieve his work-related woes.
“Massage is very good for you in many ways,” DiMartino said. “Being in the ice business, I have back pain from lifting 300-pound blocks of ice on a regular basis. I no longer lift anymore, but (massage) has also benefited me mentally to relieve the stress of everyday business.”
When George O’Brien took his position as the Greensburg YMCA’s CEO 10 months ago, he heard the company had an “iconic masseur.”
“He’s a very engaging employee and has strong relationships with our current members,” O’Brien said. “He’s passionate about what he does and serving others. He cultivates relationships with them.”
Horrell has received a lifetime membership to the YMCA. He would like to take trips with his second wife, Sharyn, to visit his son Donald in Maryland, as well as his son David in Florida. Sons Phillip and Daniel live in the area.
“At almost 82, I don’t know if I want to do too much of anything,” he said, laughing.
Horrell said he will miss the “fellowship” with his coworkers and clients.
“I’ve really appreciated all that they’ve done for me,” Horrell said. “I may have done a lot for them, but they’ve also done a lot for me.”
Nicole Chynoweth is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-850-2862 or nchynoweth@tribweb.com.
Editors Note: Allow Us to Turn Back to Necrology with Two Obituaries
George Burge
George Burge was born on April 24, 1931 in Pittsburgh, it was assumed that he might never see the stars, much less help design the spacecraft to explore them. Diagnosed with low vision, George was
enrolled in a school for the blind (WPSBC) to learn a trade, but his intellect and determination sought greater challenges. He went on to graduate valedictorian of his class from St. Justin High School in Pittsburgh, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Tech.
In 1955 he married his childhood sweetheart Etta Lockhart and relocated to Baltimore to begin his professional career with Martin Aircraft. When the “Space Race” intensified in 1959, George relocated his young family to Santa Monica to take a job with Douglas Aircraft. George would work for then McDonnell-Douglas Aerospace in Huntington Beach until his retirement in 1995, and patent technology for cryogenic liquid fuel systems for spacecraft, including the Saturn 5 rockets used in the Apollo moon missions.
But George’s proudest legacy was his family. With his best friend Etta at his side for 55 years, he brought up 3 sons and became part of The Lakewood Village community. They maintained a summer home in East Brady, PA on headwaters of the Allegheny River, where they enjoyed tranquil visits and boisterous reunions. George and Etta loved traveling, from cross-country train excursions, exploring with their grandchildren, jaunts to Catalina Island and steamboat cruises down the Mississippi River. Every Wednesday that he could, George played his clarinet in the Long Beach Senior Center Big Band. We will miss his music here on earth.
George was preceded in death by his wife Etta in 2009. He is survived by sons Mark (Cindy) of Isanti, RUN, Paul (Alice) of San Diego, CA and Chris (Jan) of La Palma, CA, six grandchildren, and two great
grandchildren, and his brother Jim (Linda) of Flatrock, KY. “No eye has seen no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. ” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Teese, Joyce
Gibsonia
Joyce Teese, of Gibsonia, passed away Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, due to complications from adrenal cortical cancer. Joyce Amber Kloss was born May 13, 1947, in Greenville, Pa. She arrived at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in 1950 at age 3, when her father, Alton G. Kloss, assumed the position of superintendent of the school. She spent the next 57 years there; 37 of them being on the staff, first as a teacher, counselor and finally supervisor. Never leaning on her heritage, Joyce developed her own reputation as a caring and effective professional who was fully invested in the well being of the students. Joyce was married briefly to Charlie Teese in the 1970s. Although the marriage was short, their friendship continued throughout her life. In 2009, Joyce married Konrad Kammerer, who was truly her ultimate soul mate. Although they enjoyed a short marriage, their bond was incredibly strong. Those who knew Joyce will always remember her connection with nature. Whether she was watching a winter snowstorm, feeding the wild turkeys that lived near her home in Gibsonia or walking by the shoreline on a sunny day, Joyce appreciated the environment that surrounded her. She respected everyone who occupied the space with her. Her co-workers recall a woman who put the “Golden Rule” into practice. Joyce always dealt with others the way that she would like to be treated herself. She championed fairness, and her ability to reconcile divergent opinions was highly regarded. Joyce had a strong devotion to animals — both wild and domestic. Throughout her lifetime, she shared her home and property with some amazing companions, including the handsome horses, Justin and Romeo, the playful cats, Herby and Henry, the loyal Irish setter, Kevin, and finally Char, the lovely cat that she rescued. An alumna of Grove City College, Joyce held advanced degrees from both the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Virginia Stoyer Kloss and Dr. Alton G. Kloss. She is survived by her husband, Konrad Kammerer; stepchildren, Daniel Kammerer and Kristen Wyse; and six stepgrandchildren. She also leaves scores of friends, former students and co-workers. Burial is private. It was Joyce’s wish that there be no memorial service. Her life, her example and her spirit are the memorial. Interment will take place in Mt. Royal Cemetery in Glenshaw. Memorial contributions may be made in Joyce’s name to North Hills Passavant Hospital Cancer Center or Animal Friends, Pittsburgh. Arrangements by BOCK FUNERAL HOME LTD., Glenshaw.
And that about completes the Alumni Bulletin for this year. Again a reminder that President Tom Hesley points out that fun day will be held Saturday September 14th at the school Doors will be open at 11:00 and the cos ist $8.00 per person. If possible have checks in by Saturday September 7th and they are to go to Joanna Berkovic. Any unanswered questions contact Joanna at 412-683-1798 or Ted Crum at 412-331-3335. Thank you and have a good rest of your summer.