PHOENIX – A existence that started out right here blossomed in other places, but in a way has returned now in many thanks for what was uncovered and how it turned that lifetime all around.
Jennifer Damiano, a very thriving New York Metropolis artist/designer, born below in 1974 and elevated in Pennellville, died almost precisely two yrs back at age 46 of breast cancer leaving two sons and a existence partner to grieve and to bear in mind her.
That memory has now taken form as The Campion and Pierce Scholarship Fund, named just after her sons, a legacy gift from her estate in honor of the school and Overlook Bergon, the trainer that gave her the assurance and encouragement to go after her art. Phoenix’s John C. Birdlebough Significant College, in conjunction with its Bucks for Scholars software, will administer the $500 yearly scholarship awarded to a talented superior college senior who’s motivation is to go after a vocation in art schooling or design and style.
“Anyone who would want to donate to the scholarship would do it specifically by means of us,” stated Wendy Dunnigan, president of the Phoenix chapter of Dollars for Scholars.
“We’re just pleased to be capable to aid the relatives have on her memory with a young college student who’s also on the lookout to go after art as a life span enthusiasm which is what Jennifer appears to be to have performed,” Dunnigan said lately. “We’re just energized to be ready to aid.”
She also mentioned a scrapbook of neighborhood memories of Jennifer is being compiled to be saved for her boys, Pierce and Campion, who are now 8 and 11. Folks can contribute reminiscences to it by contacting [email protected].
Jennifer’s lifestyle spouse, Delia Maroney, set up the scholarship with aid from the boys.
“Both little ones have creative capability,” she reported, “and we considered about performing anything. Due to the fact of COVID, it is been tricky in conditions of setting up or owning a memorial. We imagined we could do a little something approaching the anniversary of her 2nd year of passing with a scholarship. So, I’d say it was a collective, collaborative conclusion. Campion (the older son, practically 11) wrote the mission statement for the scholarship. He needs to be a participant in hunting at some of the finalists. I consider that speaks volumes in terms of how inspiring she was and her legacy. I will commit to funding this scholarship for 10 yrs. If I have a fruitful yr, at the end of the calendar year, we would allocate an additional sum of dollars, as significantly as $2,500 or bigger.”
Delia remembered Jennifer with a fond admiration and a clear-eyed view of her struggles.
“She was inspirational,” Delia explained, “and the scholarship is significant. She had actual physical abuse and neglect traumas that you and I couldn’t in all probability fathom as survivable, and she truly overcame them. She realized as a result of art that there was a thing in terms of her abilities, and she definitely experienced a fantastic deal of self esteem in her art. And she went to college. None of her siblings graduated from substantial university. Her father came about from Italy on a boat, didn’t discuss English. What she accomplished in New York Metropolis and by way of higher education is just so admirable.”
They understood each individual other 20 several years. “We have been companions,” Delia claimed. They fulfilled in Brooklyn. Delia experienced just returned from England possessing composed a participate in at Christ’s Church, Oxford. Jennifer experienced been dwelling in New York Metropolis working for a structure journal. They lived on the Upper West Aspect.
“Jen was definitely artistically gifted,” Delia continued. “She was a designer. She had a BFA (Bachelor of High-quality Artwork) from Rochester Institute of Technology. She went to Cambridge University to do some fine artwork portray. She ran her possess design and style organization called Damiano Structure. She experienced major customers in New York, all not-for-profit corporations.
“We lived in a penthouse, and we required to have youngsters. It was super-important to her. And the legacy that she provides to them is just the energy and bravery to be resilient and to have confidence in on your own and go after your desires. And the meaningfulness of the scholarship is premised in that. What I know of Phoenix, New York is it’s a quite form of economically small income, not nicely-educated place, and I think the scholarship signifies how she was able to triumph in lifestyle with the enable and support from an art trainer.”
Delia and the boys stay in Cape Cod now and have close friends and spouse and children there. Both of those of the boys see a grief counselor.
And they “have a powerful spiritual religion,” Delia explained. “It was significant to Jen as nicely. I imagine that provides us with a fantastic deal of energy and braveness.”
She explained to of how Pierce, only six several years aged when his mom died, dealt with her dying in his personal way.
“Pierce is extremely sort of introspective,” Delia said. “After Jen died, he couldn’t course of action her loss of life, and I would make his mattress in the morning and discover notes that he experienced scripted to her about the day, an afternoon stroll on the beach front, a thing he located, a shell. And that was his method of processing what has been a profound decline to them.”
Jennifer and Delia determined they preferred young children at a time they were being undertaking quite very well monetarily.
“We always gave dollars to establishments,” Delia explained. “It offers you the which means in lifetime.”
But youngsters gave it even additional.
“Children are about daily life,” Delia extra. “It presents you purpose and indicating. All that income doesn’t assess to the incredible reward of everyday living and owning and raising young children. They are a blessing. It prioritizes your lifetime in a meaningful way.
“Seeking out the positivity and comprehension legacy and inspiration for children, Jen signifies all of that,” she continued. “She overcame some very latent period traumas. She used a good deal of her everyday living having difficulties to triumph over them with therapy. To her, artwork was treatment. It was her profession and her enthusiasm. There’s terrific admiration in that.”
The mission statement of The Campion and Pierce Scholarship, composed by Jennifer and Delia’s 11-yr-aged son Campion reads,
“In loving memory of their mom, Jennifer Damiano graduate of John C. Birdlebough Substantial School, The Campion and Pierce Scholarship Fund is an award to help a promising student’s foreseeable future review of arts education and learning and/or style and design. Qualified higher college seniors should be in fantastic educational standing and display exceptional inventive capacity in artwork.”
The scholarship will be awarded this yr, for the initially time, by graduation.