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Dog/run walk honors Cortland woman
By Sean Barron
AUSTINTOWN
Mary Kay Szwedko’s eyes filled with tears as she found herself surrounded by a growing crowd.
The Cortland woman knew everyone was there to support her and the family while honoring her late daughter, Brittany Szwedko. She also was well aware that the more than 250 people had come to celebrate her beloved daughter’s life and legacy.
“It’s just so overwhelming,” Mary Kay said as she watched the number of people – and dogs – increase.
All the participants – including the animals – represented three of the things Brittany cherished most: family, running and dogs. They also took part in Saturday morning’s first Brittany Szwedko Memorial 5K Run and Dog Walk in Austintown Township Park, 6000 Kirk Road.
Brittany, 27, died March 1 in St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital after having been hit by a sport utility vehicle three days earlier while jogging along a road in Fowler Township. She was preparing to run in the Pittsburgh Marathon as well as the Mill Creek Distance Classic half-marathon when she was struck.
Russell G. Lauer III, 43, of Cortland, has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and operating a vehicle impaired.
Also playing a major role in the run/dog walk was Legacy Dog Rescue, a 5-year-old nonprofit organization that broached the Szwedko family about setting up a scholarship in Brittany’s name and hosting an event to raise funds for it.
A long-term goal is to establish a $1,000 scholarship for a student in financial need to attend Youngstown State University, Mary Kay noted.
Brittany, a 2006 Lake- view High School graduate, was “beautiful, smart and all-American” with a captivating personality that drew others’ positive attention, her mother recalled.
She had to continually adjust to making new friends because the family moved frequently as a result of the job her late father, Jack Szwedko, had as a district manager of a big-box store chain, Mary Kay continued.
“It made her more outgoing,” her mother added. “She went to a lot of schools before moving to Cortland.”
About five years ago, a friend approached Brittany to be in a marathon. Consequently, she finished in first place in her first 5K run, Mary Kay recalled with pride.
“It motivated her to be hooked on [running],” she said.
In addition, Brittany occasionally came to Legacy Dog Rescue with her two beloved dogs, Ted and Penny, especially for the organization’s Halloween event and craft shows, remembered Paula Cipriano, a Legacy board member.
“She was generous to us. She came to our events and I thought, ‘What better way to give back,’” Cipriano said, adding she heard that Brittany also took it upon herself to find homes for stray animals.
Legacy has 25 to 30 rescue dogs in foster homes and takes some animals to training classes so they become easier to adopt.
Even though Colleen Adkins had never met her, she felt a connection to Brittany, who was a public-relations officer with the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library. Adkins, an executive assistant with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, came to the run/dog walk also to support Mary Kay, who is a clerk at the PLYMC’s main branch.
Friends Sarah Schrum, Kacy McCormick and Kylie King brought their dogs, Dozer, Sadie and Marty, respectively. None of the three Canfield women knew Brittany, but all felt compelled to support the family, said Schrum, adding all three often use the park to walk their dogs.
Matt Norris and Brandon Droney, both of whom belong to YSU’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, said they wanted to volunteer at the event as a means of performing a community-service project and to support John Brkic, who is their chapter’s adviser.
Brkic also was a close friend of Brittany’s and helped spearhead the run/dog walk.
It wasn’t uncommon for Brittany to start her day by walking her two dogs around 4 a.m., being ready for work by 8 a.m. and coming home to watch the end of a Pittsburgh Pirates day game, since she was a huge Pittsburgh sports fan, recalled Dan Lanese, Mary Kay’s fianc .
Brittany had a deep love for her family, including her 24-year-old brother, Nick, and sister Jayna, 20, both of whom participated in the run/dog walk. She also easily befriended others, Lanese added.
“She was like a bright star. When she walked in a room, everybody wanted to be her friend. But she was a good person, more than anything,” he said, fighting back tears.