Samantha Brisini (from left) stands beside her father, Samuel, and mother, Rebecca in Portland, Maine. Courtesy photo

Always equipped with a can-do attitude, relatives, friends and students are remembering local teacher Samantha Brisini as a beam of light.

“She lifted everyone up around her, and she never questioned if someone could do something or not,” Saint Michael School teacher and longtime friend Gabbi Lechak said. “She said, ‘If you want to do it, do it.'”

Teaching social studies and other subjects at Saint Michael School in Loretto, Brisini also directed plays and musicals for five years at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, coached their forensics team and served as a board member at the Cresson Lake Playhouse.

She passed away at the age of 37 from a cerebral hemorrhage early Monday morning at UPMC Altoona.

“She’s irreplaceable,” Lechak said. “Her fingerprints are everywhere.”

Born Feb. 14, 1989, Brisini was the only child of Samuel and Rebecca Brisini, but was surrounded by many aunts, uncles and cousins.

As a young girl, she attended Holy Name Elementary School before attending Bishop Carroll. Her mother said she enjoyed being backstage for Bishop Carroll’s theater productions and participating in the forensics team.

Brisini felt connected to the theater from a young age, her mother said, recalling that they took her to productions at the Cresson Lake Playhouse and in Pittsburgh.

“She loved all types of music, from Broadway to rock ‘n’ roll to modern music,” Samuel Brisini said.

After graduating from high school in 2007, she went to school at the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a dual bachelor’s degree in history and political science and later a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

But Rebecca Brisini said her daughter didn’t find her niche until the early 2020s, when she went back to school for her master’s degree in education at Saint Francis University and began working as a teacher at Saint Michael School.

She taught many subjects, but Lechak said that social studies was her favorite.

“She was very intelligent,” Rebecca Brisini said. “She had a passion for history.”

She said her daughter challenged her students inside the classroom, encouraging them to achieve more than they believed was possible.

Saint Michael Principal Rhonda Seymour said Brisini’s impact won’t be forgotten in the community.

“She poured her heart into her students through every history lesson she taught to her students,” Seymour said. “Samantha had a unique gift for making others feel valued and encouraged, and her selfless spirit was evident in everything she did.”

Love of theater and community

Outside of the classroom, Brisini was deeply involved with community theater programs at Bishop Carroll and the Cresson Lake Playhouse.

In 2018, Brisini joined Bishop Carroll as the costume designer and later took over as the director after the COVID-19 pandemic.

She is credited with directing “Clue,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” as well as her most recent production, “Newsies,” which ran in April.

That production won best lead actor in a male role, runner-up in best featured actor, best ensemble and runner-up in best production at the 2026 Isaac Awards.

“She helped transform the program into the success that it is today, involving many high school, junior high and elementary students in the shows,” Bishop Carroll Principal Jonathan Nagy said.

Many of her former students took to Facebook to express their condolences after Brisini’s passing, including Bishop Carroll student Alex Krug.

“The thing I loved about her most is that she made everyone she interacted with feel SEEN,” he posted on Facebook. “She has always been there for me and all of my friends and was truly the backbone of the arts at Bishop Carroll.”

Amy Jo Krug wrote under Bishop Carroll’s Facebook post honoring Brisini, “Sam made me feel welcome as a new Bishop Carroll parent. I didn’t know many people, and she made sure I felt welcome and included in drama club. I can’t believe she’s gone and will miss her terribly.”

She also wore many hats at the Cresson Lake Playhouse, where she stage-managed, volunteered, managed sound and designed costumes for their productions. She was slated to costume “Blithe Spirit,” running from Sept. 8-13.

Longtime friend Kate Townsend described Brisini as a very talented teacher and mentor.

“I think she did so much for so many people and had a tremendous passion for theater, drama and forensics, but even more than that, I think she had a passion for people being the best they could be and helping her students grow through their work,” she said.

Townsend and Brisini first met while competing against each other in forensics competitions. Starting with instant message conversations, their friendship blossomed over time and they stayed close friends.

Before Brisini transferred to the University of Pittsburgh for her bachelor’s degree, Townsend said they attended college in Washington, D.C., together. When Townsend’s grandfather passed away, Brisini offered to drive Townsend back to her hometown in Westmoreland County without a second thought.

Townsend said that her friend made a huge impact on the local theater community.

“That loss of a mentorship, passion and kindness and devotion for so many people leaves a huge hole in the community,” she said.

Seymour said they’re conducting grief counseling services from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. June 30 at Saint Michael. Grief services are also available at Bishop Carroll.

Family and friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at Gibbons-Penska Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 29, at Holy Name Catholic Church.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.