Mary M. Calemine

KEYSER, W.Va. – Mary M. Calemine, 83, a resident of Heartland and formerly of 287 Welch Street, died on April 21, 2009 at Potomac Valley Hospital, Keyser.

Born July 25, 1925 in Keyser, she was a daughter of the late Louie Carlo Torte and Rose (Cicosta) Calemine. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, James V. Calemine, Frank A. Calemine, Dominic “Mickey” Calemine, her sister, Philemena “Minnie” Wise, a sister-in-law, Mary K. Calemine and a niece Anita Calemine Grove.

Miss Calemine taught English and journalist at Fort Hill High School for 21 years. She later was selected as Allegany County’s first supervisor of English; and after her retirement from Allegany County, she was selected as the first lay principal of St. Frances School in Keyser.

Miss Calemine graduated from Keyser High School, Potomac State College and West Virginia University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree. She did graduate work at the University of Syracuse, New York. She was also affiliated with the University of Maryland, Washington and Lee University and Columbia University.

Miss Calemine was advisor of the Fort Hill Newspaper, the Sentinel, which won many state, regional and national honors. Columbia University rated it the top newspaper in its class. In 1975, she was presented the national Gold Key Award by the Scholastic Press Association for “outstanding devotion to the cause of school press and leadership in the field of education”. She was also presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Maryland Council of Teachers of English in 1976.

Miss Calemine directed the development of the first county wide curriculum guides for the English program in Allegany County. She also developed guides for St. Frances School.

She is survived by her devoted family which includes her brother-in-law, Herman Wise of Keyser; three nieces, Rosalee Calemine Freeman and husband Ron of Keyser, Carol Calemine Rhodes and husband Leonard of Keyser and Nancy Calemine Tyler and husband John of Belcamp, MD.; two nephews, Louis J. Calemine and wife Vicki of St. Simons Island, GA and James A. Calemine and wife Pam of Keyser. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law Gladys Cirello Calemine and Colleen London Calemine and a nephew Tom Grove all of Keyser; and numerous cousins, great nieces and nephews in the United States, Italy and Australia.

Miss Calemine was loved and respected by man of her former students and colleagues. Several kept in touch with her until her death. Mary especially enjoyed the cards and visits from her special friends, Bill Abbot, Delores Chase Morgan and Roy Pepper. She was very proud of her Italian heritage, of her Catholic faith and of her career as a teacher.

Friends will be received at Markwood Funeral Home, Keyser, on Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. A Christian Wake Service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 7 pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Assumption, Keyser, on Friday, at 10:30 a.m. with Father Ivan Lebar, T.O.R. as celebrant. Interment will follow in Saint Thomas Cemetery, Keyser.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Assumption Ladies Guild or the K of C, 34 James Street, Keyser, WV.

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