IN MEMORY
We knew Terri was married to Greg Zucco, so I reached out for some memory of her. I thought I remembered they were high school sweethearts and Greg confirmed that with a story that he took Terri to the Bowling night Prom Weekend.....he reminisced:
Terri had rather strict parents, but permitted her to go, but there was a mix up on when she had to be home. Apparently, she was supposed to be home earlier than we both had in mind. So there we were at Bowling City about 2 am and the announcement over the PA system is asking for Terri Otis. We go to the desk and there is Mr. Otis in a trench coat with his pajamas hanging out the bottom. He was there to collect his daughter. I offered to drive her home, but he politely declined. The rest is history.
How profound the end of my senior year in high school. It changed my life for the next thirty years. It was the best I could hope for.
To my request for some words about Terri and the year of her death, Greg responsed:
Hi Sue:
Your request for a few words about Terri gave me pause to reflect on our life together and distill into a short passage what her life meant to myself and everyone she touched. It’s nearly impossible. After 32 years together, we enjoyed a good marriage/ family and she was wildly accomplished in her personal and professional life. People were drawn to her, resulting in a wide community of friends. As with too many of our classmates she was challenged in her prime with breast cancer, courageously beating it once only to have it return after five years remission. Two more years of struggle, enduring the most grueling treatments, while not stopping the march of this insidious disease, only highlighted her strength and grace in her final days. She never complained. She passed away in 1997. She is remembered fondly and more often than I could have imagined.
Thanks for asking.
Greg Zucco
Susan Devlin
Terri, miss you. Had the pleasure of spending time again with Gregg at a reunion....he still remembers you and loves you (in his heart). He has moved on but I think he still lingers. This site started long after your tragic passing...too early....but many remember you and miss you.
Lois J. Wilson
I did not know Terri well, although we both went to the same junior high and then through high school. However, I think it was in Mr. Whipkey's math class that she sat near me, and I remember her infectious giggle/laugh. Somehow, there always seemed to be something that she saw funny even in a rather dull class. I often wondered how she could find anything funny in algebra.
Judy Reardon
My memories of Terri go way back to 1955 when we were in Brownies. I was the outsider, being from St. Anne's while the majority of the rest attended Foster. She was sweet to me then and after transferring to the public school system (Mellon and the high school), she remained just as sweet. One was lucky to be acknowledged by any classmate back in those days, but Terri always had a smile and a friendly "hi" when passing my way. She was a good soul. God rest.
Mandy Tomb (Dunlap)
I remember Terri as a kind, fun classmate and friend with a great attitude, kind spirit and obvious love of life. Gregg's tribute to her was beautiful. Rest in Peace, Terri. With loving memories, Mandy Tomb Dunlap
Jack Watchorn
As a Foster, Mellon, and High School friend, I found Terri to be fun and sociable; always a smile and kind word toward me and others she hung out with. She left us far far to early. I'll always remember Terri.........Jack Watchorn
Gail Smyth (Lindsay)
Terri and I were friends through Foster,Mellon and High School and became even closer friends in High School. We both dated guys that went to Kent State in Ohio. We had many talks about the “challenges” of long distance relationships!! After graduating,Terri went to Grove City (later transferred to Kent) and I went to Edinboro. Dick and Greg were roommates and fraternity brothers at Kent. We had some great times together at some great parties at Kent. Terri was a great friend. We were in each other’s wedding and kept in touch for a number of years after that and then eventually lost touch with each other. I was sorry to hear about her struggles with breast cancer and her passing away.
In loving memory of Terri,
Gail Smyth Lindsay
Rande McCollum (Macchiette)
I always say my memories are not the best...I still say being yanked out of Mt. Lebanon mid-senior year devasted me, and I do think I shut down so so many memories of friends and life there. I remember Terri from Mellon for sure. Mellon was a great band of girls from my 50-year perspective. Many coming from St. Bernards and the Mellon feeder schools bringing us together for our first "angst" years....
But I feel I remember something more with Teri in regards to Kent State. I went to Ohio State, was involved in the riots there before the group moved onto Kent State.... We were all so so traumatized. My husband and i were students at OSU, and a best friend and member of our wedding owned a bar in downtown Kent. The town pretty much evacuated after the killings, but because our best friends were there, we went to hang out in mourning with many who stayed. I remember seeing one of the bar scenes in The Deer Hunter, a decade later, with everyone drinking Rolling Rock beer. It so reminded me of those days in Kent....May of 1970 So, I was thinking about some of the kids that went to Kent....and was really trying to think about who was there, and if I ever was back in touch with Greg and Terri... such a turbulent time.....
And my thoughts to Terri so much about the monster breast cancer. So much progress has been made.... but the untold number of friends we all have who have had second visits from the monster is devastating. The second time around, is so often the killer. I have had it once, and now every year hold my breath when I go in for those beloved diagnostic mammograms... it is just what we do. But many of us, including me, still am not sure I did make the best decisions of treatment back then...will always wonder, and hope I don't have a second visit from that Monster. 14 years and counting. I am just so sure Terri was counting too.... best of thoughts to what appears to be a wonderful, happy life, that was obviously just cut too short. And thanks for Greg for sharing more of that good life...