Dr. Virginia Carol Felosa Demchik
Dr. Virginia Carol Felosa Demchik, of Columbia, Maryland, passed away at 5:03 p.m. on March 23, 2015.
Born April 15, 1944, in Butte, Montana, she was the daughter of the late Carl A. and Mary Virginia Rodriguez Felosa of Shinnston.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Michael J. Demchik; and a brother, Anthony Felosa of Shinnston.
She is survived by a son, Dr. Michael C. Demchik and wife, Sophia, of Almond, Wisconsin; a daughter, Stephanie Tuite and husband, Tim, of Highland, Maryland; and four grandchildren, Benjamin and Emily Demchik, and Kyra and Kayleigh Tuite; and a step-granddaughter, Melissa Jones of Keren. She also is survived by two brothers; Carl Felosa and wife, Susan, and Florentino (Tino) Felosa and wife, Marchia, of Shinnston.
Virginia received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fairmont State College, a Masters of Arts in Science and Math Education, and a Doctorate in Science Teacher Education from West Virginia University. She attended advanced studies and/or post-doctoral studies at American University, University of Maryland, University of Iowa, East Carolina University, Shepherd University, Clarion University, College of Graduate Studies, Marshall University, and William and Mary College. She was a recipient of many grants: one with the Department of Energy to Work with scientists at METC Energy Center in Morgantown, and one at CEBAF (Jefferson Labs) Nuclear Electron Beam Facility in Newport News, Virginia. In 2010, Dr. Demchik was recognized as the teacher with contributions to Excellence in Education by the WV Italian Heritage Society, Clarksburg.
Dr. Demchik was in education for 40 years before retirement. She taught at R-W High School in Clarksburg, Scott High School in Madison, and Jefferson High School in Shenandoah Junction. She was an adjunct professor at Bowie State College (Maryland), Parkersburg Community College (West Virginia), Southern West Virginia Community College, COGS, Marshall University, West Virginia University, and Shepherd University. She taught advanced science, mathematics, math education and science education. During those years, she published or presented over 200 articles and papers in the areas of science and math. With her husband, she published a novel, The Future Mirrors the Past, and a cookbook, His and Hers Cookbook.
She was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church. Virginia held memberships in WVU Alumni Foundation, WV Academy of Science, AAPT-Appalachian Chapter, HHRE-WVU Chapter, National Science Teachers Association, Phi Delta Kappa, and WV Retired Teachers Association. Dr. Demchik was the NSTA Regional Director for the states of West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky from 1998 to 2000.
She preferred to spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She spent a great deal of time on her computer and really enjoyed getting emails from her family and friends. Her fascination with sports was legend, she watched college football, basketball, baseball, NASCAR, and any other sport that caught her attention. She loved finding new recipes or ways of cooking.
A memorial mass was held 11 a.m. Friday, March 27, 2015, at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities, 841 Country Club Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505.