COLUMNS
catching up with
THE PICCIANOS!
Andy and Margie Picciano are shining stars in the education world and both left their mark at Gilmour. Andy worked at GA from 1975 to 1986, teaching a variety of subjects including social studies, psychology, economics, civics and government. Margie followed later, serving as a math teacher in the Middle and Upper Schools from 2001 to 2011. When asked what drove each to Gilmour at different times in their careers, the answer was the same for both - the sense of family. They agreed that when coworkers become friends, and friends become family, you never work a day in your life. That sense of family was so central to their Gilmour experience that they were even married at Gilmour by Fr. John Blazek, C.S.C. ’58. During their years at Gilmour, they also became close with the Teisls, the Haags and the McCamleys. Andy fondly remembers emceeing an awards ceremony. Margie was quick to share that her favorite memory had to be the Christmas party in Tudor House. She loved that opportunity to gather as a community. Both noted their reason for coming back to Gilmour year after year. They felt like Gilmour was an amazing place to teach. They cited the nice families, the way students responded to discipline and the sense that all the teachers were treated equally. Margie also added that a Gilmour student who might have just been an average student at another school, was able to bloom at Gilmour because of the teachers and the learning atmosphere. Now both retired, the Piccianos have three children (including Cleveland WOIO’s
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special projects reporter and producer Jen Picciano) and nine grandchildren ranging in age from 18 months to 12 years old. Every year after the holidays, the pair drives out west and spends three months in Santa Barbara, San Diego and Tucson. While in Cleveland, Margie is a Red Coat usher at Playhouse Square and Andy works at Destination Cleveland, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (including on the Christmas train), is a Cuyahoga County court-appointed Guardian ad Litem and is a surrogate parent for special ed foster children who deal with IEP issues.
The Piccianos with their grandchildren