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Wendy Sue Ammerman, 55, McKees Rocks, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. She was born in Altoona and raised in Tyrone, daughter of the late Don W. "Herk" Ammerman II and Merle Louise (Stonebraker) Ammerman.
Wendy is survived by her mother; her loving partner, Gregory Giacomino; her sisters, Kelly (Rob) McKnight of Pittsburgh and Desiree Ammerman of Bellemead; aunts, Doris "Mert" Robison of San Diego, Calif., and Susan (Jim) Thimlar of Bristol, Ind.; cousins: Dave (Teri) Stonebraker, Harold (Leigh) Stonebraker, Cindy Fely, Paula (George) Small, Rachel (Nick) McAllister, Cori Thimlar, Josh (Mara) Fely, Jake Fely, Kana Small, Lily Small and Noah (Liz) Small.
Growing up, Wendy was a proud student of Carol's School of Baton, competing nationally for two decades. A graduate of Tyrone Area High School, she was both an alto saxophone player and a majorette in the band. Wendy won many titles with the Tyrone Area High School Indoor Baton Twirling Competition Squad, serving as the head majorette in her final season, the 1982-83 school year. Wendy earned her bachelor's degree from Clarion University. While at Clarion, she won Ms. College Majorette of Pennsylvania and International Ms. College Majorette of America. She spent many years of her life mentoring and teaching other twirlers, choreographing many award-winning performances while leaving a lasting positive impact on their character.
Wendy was also a recreational softball player for 40 years, serving concurrently as a player and beloved manager of her Pittsburgh Team for over 20 of them while fostering lifelong friendships. Wendy earned her master's degree in Special Education at Duquesne University and taught Special Education for the Pittsburgh Public Schools for 28 years. She began her career at Prospect Middle School, where in addition to her regular teaching duties, she coached girls softball and boys soccer. It was typical for Wendy to travel with a roster of 33 players even for a nine-player team; diverse and fully inclusive, everyone played no matter their skill level. While teaching at Pittsburgh Brashear High School, she was the district's first female head coach of the boys' high school team. Wendy was proud to coach this soccer team to the Pittsburgh City Championship game. She also served as an assistant girls softball coach at Pittsburgh Brashear.
Wendy was the Special Education Instructional Team Leader in her recent position at South Brook Middle School. She was a career-long active member of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers. As a union member, Wendy served on the Grassroots Committee, an open forum committee dedicated to identifying challenges and opportunities for growth and improvement in PPS Special Education teachers' working lives, their supports, and most importantly, their students.
There have been many achievements and awards. However, it will be the lessons of respect, kindness, grace, teamwork, inclusion, hard work, friendship and dedication, instilled in her by her family and her original baton instructors, Debbie Bernhart and Carol Riley, that will be her everlasting legacy as they live on in each life that she touched.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private service will be held at Bruce E. Cox Funeral Home, 3784 Warriors Mark Path, Warriors Mark. Friends and family will plan celebrations of life for everyone to attend in Pittsburgh and Tyrone once COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Skills of Central Pennsylvania at Memorial Giving -- Skills Foundation, https://www.skillsof
centralpa.org/foundation/memorial-honory-gifts/ or by mail to Skills Foundation, 341 Science Park Road, Suite 6, State College, PA 16803. Skills has created a caring community environment for Desiree and our family for many years.
www.bruceecoxfh.com