Bees are essential, highly social, and intelligent creatures who exhibit traits such as optimism, playfulness, hard work, and community organization. It’s no surprise that they just so happen to have been Mrs. Pomarico’s favorite insect.
If you were lucky enough to have had Mrs. Pomarico, you know that she had a love for her students, family, wild flowers, and the National Day Calendar. So, what better day to remember her than National Bee Day, May 20th.
Hempfield Area is a different place without her, but her legacy lives on through her colleagues and students who never forget her in a conversation and always share her stories.
Mrs. Mash sums up Mrs. Pomarico in the best way, noting that she “never said anything unkind about anyone.”
This is further emphasized by Mr. Chovanec who shares that Mrs. Pomarico always “found the silver lining to the cloud, to brighten your day when it wasn’t going so well.” He told a story about the countless times she drove him to and from school, even when it was inconvenient for her, because “that was the kind of person she was, every single day.”
Mrs. Pomarico held close relationships with many staff members, lovingly nicknaming a group of them “The Golden Girls,” a name that, Mrs. Testa says, “perfectly captured our shared sense of humor and the genuine love we had for one another.” Testa elaborates, saying, “whether it was delivering Keystone Donuts, walking beside me through the highs and lows of becoming a mom, or simply listening when I needed someone most, she loved, listened, and made everyone laugh.”
Many students were aware of the battle Mrs. Pomarico faced. It’s true; cancer sucks. However, we don’t remember her for her sickness, but rather, in the way Mrs. Kertoy does. “She always cared about others, even when she was fighting the biggest battle of her life. Her spirit, her laugh, her wit were unmatched.”
Of all the people at Hempfield Area High School, Mrs. Pomarico’s closest companion was her classroom neighbor and bio bestie, Dr. Franklin. 28 years ago, the two started teaching at Hempfield Area and “were thrown together as the only two female faculty members teaching Biology when hired; our shared love for tea, books, snarky remarks and nerdy Biology stuff made us quick friends,” says Franklin.
It’s clear that Dr. Franklin is a little lost without their sweet friendship. She remembers how common it was to find a little note slipped on her desk in the morning or a favorite treat sitting next to her tea cup without any fanfare, just a way for Mrs. Pomarico to let someone know that she cared.
Students probably can recall how Mrs. Pomarico pepped us up before an exam. Interestingly, Dr. Franklin shares that she and Mrs. Pomarico would give each other pep talks before students arrived. “Our tradition even continued in the fall of this year – when she was on sick leave. She met me early in the school parking lot with our usual order, and we sat in her car and gave each other a pep talk before I headed into school and she headed to medical treatments.”
Franklin says, Mrs. Pomarico wanted to be remembered as a teacher whose “students learned some Biology and had a little fun.” Something I will never forget from her Honors Biology class in 9th grade was her daily slideshow. Each morning, she would start the class by presenting the “national days.” Today, for instance, is National Be A Millionaire Day, National Pick Strawberries Day, National Juice Slush Day, and of course, World Bee Day. She always created a fun start to a period of learning. She made her instruction relatable, truly cared about getting to know each of us, and taught us a little bit of biology too.
A bee may be small, but its purpose changes the world. This is true of Mrs. Pomarico whose beautiful legacy of kindness continues to radiate through the halls of Hempfield Area High School. Mrs. Pomarico brought a sweetness wherever she went, and that gift will not soon be forgotten.
