Struthers community mourns longtime teacher, guidance counselor

By Sarah Lehr

slehr@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

When Donna Marciano retired from the Struthers City Schools District in 2009, she invoked an example from her own life and urged the student body not to succumb to negative expectations.

When Marciano was in high school, a counselor told her she was “not college material.” Yet, as she reminded her students, Marciano went on to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education from Youngstown State University.

“She encouraged students rather than discouraged them,” Sandy Ross, guidance counselor at Struthers High School, said of Marciano. “She told them, ‘Don’t believe someone who says that you can’t achieve.’”

Marciano, who worked for more than 30 years as a Struthers teacher before spending 10 years as the high-school guidance counselor, died Monday at 66. Marciano lost a seven-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to her obituary.

In the days since Marciano’s death, members of the Struthers community have expressed their gratitude toward the educator.

Catherine Cercone-Miller, president of the Struthers Rotary Community Corps, described Marciano as “one of those Struthers people.” The club honored Marciano earlier this year.

“To know her was to love her,” Cercone-Miller said. “Her husband adored her. Her students looked up to her.”

Cercone-Miller said Marciano had a knack for connecting with young people.

“Being a guidance counselor she dealt with everybody, whether it was related to college or family or school,” Cercone-Miller said. “She had a hand on everybody’s life.”

Calling hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. todayat Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4700 Market St., Boardman.

Contributions may be made in Marciano’s name to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman.