Alumni Spotlight The Battle They Didn’t Choose CWE Alum Jennifer Merendino’s Fight with Breast Cancer told through the Lens of her Husband Former CWE Student Angelo Merendino was 42 and Jen was 34,” says Merendino of their non-traditional wedding. Merendino wore Chuck Taylor’s (sneakers) and Jen, her flip-flops. “We had been through enough relationships and knew what we didn’t want. It was Jen and me vs. the world.” Five months after they were married, Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer. Merendino had started classes at CWE months earlier. “My time at CWE inspired me to have new thoughts and different ways of thinking,” he says. “I was very inspired by the instructors who were dedicated to helping us as adults to continue our education.” Unfortunately, he couldn’t finish school. When Jen was diagnosed with cancer, Merendino’s focus became taking care of her. Jen, who had ambitions of being a schoolteacher, graduated
Jen’s beautiful smile.
magna cum laude from CWE in February 2010. Merendino started documenting Jen’s day-to-day life with cancer that same year. Jen also kept a blog and was open about her experience. Their first exhibit was held in Cleveland a month before Jen died. “Jen was in the hospital at the time,” says Merendino. “She called in on the phone to speak to everyone. It was really amazing to be in this room and hear her voice come through. I knew things weren’t going well. I was glad that before she passed she saw the photographs in this way.” After Jen’s passing, for much of 2012, Merendino stood in front of his computer screen looking at photographs and editing them as a way of dealing with his loss. “Different photographs have different meanings,” says Mer-
Jen painting her nails at a window.
endino, who plans to start a non-profit in Jen’s honor. Nine exhibits have been showcased up until now. “I hope when people see our photographs, they can see past the cancer and see the love in the photographs and the life that Jennifer was determined to live.” For more on the exhibit, go to www.mywifesfightwithbreastcancer.com
Photos: Angelo Merendino
Jen receiving chemotherapy push.
Jen and Angelo in the ocean.
Angelo shaving Jen’s head at the hospital.
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