Doris Piasecki

From the Saturday, May 30th, 2009 edition of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

With a love for the well-being of children, Doris Piasecki organized the first Girl Scout group in Blawnox so that her daughter and 23 other girls would have the opportunity to have fun and learn something at the same time.

"All the girls in Aspinwall belonged to Girl Scout troops, and my mother thought that me and the other local girls deserved to have some of the same activities and social events they did," said her daughter, Jolene Dziuban of Blawnox. "She then went out, took the training, started the group, and the area still has it today, thanks to her."

Doris J. Comptaro Piasecki of Blawnox, a former secretary for the Fox Chapel Area School District's guidance department, died on Thursday, May 28, 2009, in UPMC Presbyterian hospital, Oakland. She was 83.

Mrs. Piasecki graduated in 1943 from Aspinwall High School, where she enjoyed being a cheerleader for the school's state football championship team. Upon graduation, she started working for the school district as a secretary, where she remained for more than 40 years.

Dziuban said her mother was passionate about helping students and would do anything to ensure their happiness.

"Back in the 1970s, there was one girl who came from a broken home and didn't have very much, so my mom took her to the mall and bought her clothes and lunch," Dziuban said. "That girl still sent her Christmas cards every year and even drove in from out of state to see her last year."

Born in New Kensington, Mrs. Piasecki grew up in Blawnox and became a member of St. Edward Church. She was one of two daughters in the family of local bar owner Joseph Comptaro and his wife, Frances Mazaski Comptaro.

As a youngster, she cleaned and served food at her father's bar. During her years there, she met John A. Piasecki, who served as a Marine in World War II and earned a Purple Heart for his service at the Battle of Pelelui. When he was discharged in 1946, the two married at St. Edward Church.

John. A Piasecki Jr. of Robinson said his mother was a strong, independent woman well-respected by her co-workers at Dorseyville Middle School.

"She never called in (sick) at the school and even substituted there until about a week before she died," he said. "She never had a single surgery or operation."

In addition to her daughter Jolene and son John, Mrs. Piasecki is survived by three grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and a sister, Rose Marie Comptaro