"Debbie was tragically taken away shortly after graduation. She was a great friend and never had a bad word to say about anyone. I will never forget her visitation and how many classmates attended. She will truly be missed! Love you Debbie! Wish you were coming to the 20th! We'll meet again!"
I remember working with one of jaflo's tree crews not far from mountian lake a few days before they found the rifle.
I never knew Deborah that well....but I do remember always thinking that she was someone who was above the fray. Not pigeon holed into the classic high school stereotypes. She had larger plans in store....a young woman on her own mission.
Maybe that's just what i saw....but i bet you saw it too.
Almost twenty years after her death it's only fitting we honor her life.
I was good friends with Debbie, we hung out a lot at Marywood College. I always said i was going to take her horseback riding, because she never went, but i wasn't able to do that for her. Neither of us were popular in school, i bet a lot of people don't even know who i am, so Debbie and I had a connection. I remember the day she cut all her long hair off, i went to her house and she had the big long braid in her dresser drawer! i still miss her!
There's a picture of Debbie and I in Daisies (a Protestant form of Girl Scouts) when we were 4 and 5 years old in my family's album. I knew her all of her life. Our parents are still friends to this day. We took different social roads in high school, but I still find it shocking how something like that could happen to someone like that. She was a symbol of her faith and her loyalty to herself and her family. I think of her often and I wish our roads had run a little closer together.
Debbie had a locker that was just two down from me. I remember bringing my boom box to school and keeping it in my locker since I had the locker all to myself. (I was spoiled then, and very embarrassed of it now!) We would play Madonna's "Like A Virgin" cassette all morning while waiting for the 8:45AM bell to ring. At that time, we would turn it off and head up to homeroom to drop off books and begin walking the halls. Debbie was in search of Ron Pitts. I remember how much Debbie liked him and when he showed up at her visitation, it really touched my heart to see him there. I know she would have been amazed and ecstatic knowing that he was there. I truly miss Debbie and think of her very often. My heart still breaks thinking about what she went through, but I know she is where she wants to be. That's the comfort that pulls us through. I wish she was coming to the 20th with the rest of us. We'll meet again someday, Debbie! Until then.....
Debbie, Janet, Iris and I ate lunch almost every day. One strange memory I will always remember, but epitomized who she was, was when she was doing a needlepoint for her sister's upcoming wedding during her lunch break.
She was the essence of 'wholesome'. She was admirably and extremely devout, but incredibly accepting of everyone. I also remember her raising funds for her church in a rocking chair 'sit-off'. So you could imagine the shock upon hearing of her passing and the circumstances surrounding it. (Iris P called me at college). I was too devastated to go to the viewing (having always disliked funerals). And I fell back on the easy 'I would like to remember her as she was'. Ironically, I have done just that, and those memories have helped me deal with the matter in a very serene way.
I remember helping her fill out her application to Marywood College, and the financial aid packet (she was doing this against her parent's will and had no assistance). As always, she thanked me profusely and I was overjoyed when she was accepted.
Christopher Potter
I remember working with one of jaflo's tree crews not far from mountian lake a few days before they found the rifle.I never knew Deborah that well....but I do remember always thinking that she was someone who was above the fray. Not pigeon holed into the classic high school stereotypes. She had larger plans in store....a young woman on her own mission.
Maybe that's just what i saw....but i bet you saw it too.
Almost twenty years after her death it's only fitting we honor her life.
-potter
Diane Shaw (Iacono)
I was good friends with Debbie, we hung out a lot at Marywood College. I always said i was going to take her horseback riding, because she never went, but i wasn't able to do that for her. Neither of us were popular in school, i bet a lot of people don't even know who i am, so Debbie and I had a connection. I remember the day she cut all her long hair off, i went to her house and she had the big long braid in her dresser drawer! i still miss her!Diane Brigido (Critchley)
There's a picture of Debbie and I in Daisies (a Protestant form of Girl Scouts) when we were 4 and 5 years old in my family's album. I knew her all of her life. Our parents are still friends to this day. We took different social roads in high school, but I still find it shocking how something like that could happen to someone like that. She was a symbol of her faith and her loyalty to herself and her family. I think of her often and I wish our roads had run a little closer together.Maury Mackie (Schelm)
Debbie had a locker that was just two down from me. I remember bringing my boom box to school and keeping it in my locker since I had the locker all to myself. (I was spoiled then, and very embarrassed of it now!) We would play Madonna's "Like A Virgin" cassette all morning while waiting for the 8:45AM bell to ring. At that time, we would turn it off and head up to homeroom to drop off books and begin walking the halls. Debbie was in search of Ron Pitts. I remember how much Debbie liked him and when he showed up at her visitation, it really touched my heart to see him there. I know she would have been amazed and ecstatic knowing that he was there. I truly miss Debbie and think of her very often. My heart still breaks thinking about what she went through, but I know she is where she wants to be. That's the comfort that pulls us through. I wish she was coming to the 20th with the rest of us. We'll meet again someday, Debbie! Until then.....Kelly Chiaro (Marichak)
...I just simply remember standing next to Debbie at graduation. What a strong peaceful person she was. She was a kind soul. God bless.Kelly
John Overholtz (Overholtz)
Debbie, Janet, Iris and I ate lunch almost every day. One strange memory I will always remember, but epitomized who she was, was when she was doing a needlepoint for her sister's upcoming wedding during her lunch break.She was the essence of 'wholesome'. She was admirably and extremely devout, but incredibly accepting of everyone. I also remember her raising funds for her church in a rocking chair 'sit-off'. So you could imagine the shock upon hearing of her passing and the circumstances surrounding it. (Iris P called me at college). I was too devastated to go to the viewing (having always disliked funerals). And I fell back on the easy 'I would like to remember her as she was'. Ironically, I have done just that, and those memories have helped me deal with the matter in a very serene way.
I remember helping her fill out her application to Marywood College, and the financial aid packet (she was doing this against her parent's will and had no assistance). As always, she thanked me profusely and I was overjoyed when she was accepted.
David Peregrim
Can't beleive we have so many people gone.