Friday, January 25, 2019
To Cass' family, especially Tad
I am sad to hear of Cass' passing. My brother (John) and sisters (Angie and Lana) have very fond memories of her. She always welcomed us on her porch to talk and laugh. For so many years when we lived in Country Club Estates my family was very close to her and John. They like us, were one of the first families in Country Club Estates. I have fond memories of her and John taking me to the WVU basketball games in the old Field House when I was in middle and high school, which would have been before 1970 when the Coliseum opened. We used to see across our fence her playing golf on Ladies Day at the Field Club. When I became old enough I enjoyed having a beer with her in the summers in late afternoons on her porch. Through her and John, we came to know her sister in law Barbara Williams and her son Tad with whom we also came to be close. My mother, Helen, became especially close to Barbara and all of us looked forward to their visits each summer.
Although I had not seen Cass for a number of years, she and John have often been in my thoughts. As I said, they used to take me to WVU basketball games and I became an avid basketball fan and an avid WVU athletics fan partly because of them. Discussion of sports was a regular part of our conversations. I continue to go to all home basketball games and, as a faculty member, was a member of the WVU Athletic Council for 6 years. If it were not for them, I would have never have had the experience of seeing a basketball game in the Field House, which is such a great part of WVU Basketball history because it was where so many famous athletes played such as Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley.
Her interest in me, my brother and sisters, and other children in the neighborhood, such as Danny Morgan, the Mason children, will always be how I remember her. She was loved and appreciated by all of us. My mother was in awe of her flowers, especially her tulips each spring.
I am sorry to be unable to attend services for her or to visit family at the funeral home but I must be in Pittsburgh Saturday and Sunday. But I end this with sympathy for the sorrow her family and close friends are feeling now. Special thoughts to Tad Williams. Also to Mimi and Alan Hartley, John's niece and nephew who I knew from St Peters' school.
Fondly, Pam Deiriggi
18 Amber Ridge
Morgantown, WV 26508
304-677-7526
Formerly of 4 Bel Manor Drive, Fairmont
And on behalf of Angie, Lana and John
