Mystery Classmate 074

Congratulations to Carrie Schadle, Jack Horner, Coleman Brennan, Jamie Kracsun McBride, Tina Schadle Dover, Colleen O’Connor Casey, Beth Chufo Nichols, Amy Gongaware Senkow, Donna Andreas Copley, Karen Campbell Ricci, Jeff Hoener, Megan Mahoney, and Paula Recchio Joseph, all of whom correctly identified Maria Wojtaszek ('85) as Mystery Classmate #74 and are listed in the order that their responses were received.

In case you were wondering, Maria Wojtaszek Romanelli lives in Penn Hills with her boyfriend Terry and her daughters Nicole, 11, and Samantha, 10. After a career as a Paramedic, Maria began working as an emergency dispatcher in 1993. In 1997 she was hired by the then newly-formed 911 center that serves the 23 eastern communities of Allegheny County. Maria has been a supervisor there for three years. She spends most of her leisure time doing home remodeling projects, running the kids around, and skiing.

Many classmates had fond memories of Maria. Beth Chufo Nichols recognized Maria’s profile from looking down the bench at swim practice, while Jeff Hoener remembered Maria from the Forest Hills pool. Carrie Schadle wrote, “I have many memories of Maria, but I would have to say that my favorites all have to do with her parents going to card parties. Enough said.”

Amy Gongaware Senkow complimented Maria’s spelling.

Jeff Hoener also noted that Maria occasionally babysat his son Adam in the fall of 2000. Maria’s sister-in-law Debbie (Tim’s wife) watched Adam on most days but when Debbie had a conflict Maria filled in.

Jack Horner encountered Maria unexpectedly one day. He wrote, “Once when shady characters were outside our office building, I called the police -- and halfway through (the call) the voice said, "JACK, it's MARIA!?" We started catching up, and I almost forgot why I called.”

Several classmates complained that this week’s contest was too difficult because it showed Maria in semi-profile. To you, Karen Campbell Ricci writes, “I'm glad the picture is not straight on, because she is looks exactly like she did in high school and it would be a total giveaway. I see Maria occasionally at St. Maurice functions -- her daughter goes to CCD with my daughter. She is still as friendly as she was, back in the day.”

Milton Koutavas guessed Sue Kostic. Jerry Koutavas guessed Christina Noggle.