Meet this week's City Face, Wendy Imperial. 

 

How long have you lived in Bridgeport? If not a lifelong resident, tell me what brought you here.

 

My family moved to Bridgeport in 1963 when my dad was transferred here with what became Consolidated Gas Company.  My family is originally from the Penn Hills area outside of Pittsburgh.

 

Are you married, have kids? Tell me about your family.

 

My family consists of my 93 year-old mother, my three siblings and spouses, and many nieces and nephews! My brother Wayne (BHS Class of 1967), and sisters Susan (Class of 1970) and Julie (Class of 1976) are blessed to live with their spouses in Bridgeport too! (See family pictures below)

 

Where do you work and what do you do there?

 

I retired two years ago after more than three decades in education. During my years I taught both elementary and high school levels, was the counselor at Bridgeport Middle School, and served as administrator at Gore Middle, Transitional Middle, and West Milford Elementary Schools, before moving to Assistant Superintendent of Harrison County Schools for six years prior to retiring. Although retired, I continue to teach a graduate course for the Counseling Department at WVU.

 

What are your hobbies/favorite pastimes?

 

I’ve developed a retirement hobby that has become a small business for me.  I find old furniture at flea markets, yard sales or thrift stores and resurrect them by repairing and painting them.  I named my little business Déjà vu Vintage and I am one of the many vendors found at Hometown Marketplace next to AC Moore on Emily Drive.

 

Favorite Bridgeport spot? 

 

Every season is beautiful walking the path at Deegan & Hinkle Lakes!

 

What do you like about Bridgeport … why is this a good place to live?

 

Bridgeport is a unique area with so much support for its families.  I love all the activities offered for children in our town.  Having just celebrated my 45^th high school reunion this summer, I was reminded how my classmates are lifelong friends! 

 

One – or more – of your favorite memories of something that took place in Bridgeport ...

 

I have fond memories of the Bridgeport Firemans Fair!!!  We would all walk to the fair and enjoy the rides, games, and food.  It was truly a wonderful time in the middle of each summer!  I also remember just hanging out on summer evenings in my neighborhood on Lawman Avenue and enjoyed the fun fall leaf mazes that our neighbors, the Bonamicos,  would build with us in our adjoining yards!

 

What is your favorite WV spot outside of Bridgeport?

 

I have a group of close friends that camp at Summersville Lake for two weeks each July.  I have enjoyed sharing this beautiful lake with good food and friends for several decades now!  The water is crystal clear!

 

How about your favorite place outside of WV?

 

Any beach!  I love the warm sun, soft sand and rushing waves of the ocean!

 

What are some of your favorite things? Food/restaurant? Favorite color? Music genre/artist?

I really enjoy WVU sports!  I am a season ticket holder for football and usually see at least 10 basketball games each year and an occasional baseball game.  I’m proud of the WVU Mountaineers and how they represent our state!

 

I love shopping….especially for bargains!  This works well with my retirement hobby since I am always on the hunt for thrift furniture to refinish.  I also love Christmas shopping for the kids in our family.  Such fun watching their faces each year.

 

My favorite color(s) would first of all be GOLD and BLUE, right!?!   Personally, I also like the deep purple shade - eggplant.

 

What is your best childhood memory?

 

My early years in Bridgeport were spent on Millbrook Road in the house my family built when we were transferred to WV.  This area that now is filled with many homes and businesses was much more -sparsely inhabited back then.  My siblings and I used to play in a huge snow-covered field behind our house that now the site of the Sheetz corner!!   

 

We loved trick-or-treating in our Millbrook Road neighborhood in which I ironically now live. It sure brigs back childhood memories to live on the same street on which I first lived when moving to WV.

 

Interesting fact about you and/or something you would like to add…

 

I really have enjoyed two careers in my life.  I worked in real estate for five years in the late 70’s and early 80’s, first as a secretary and then salesperson, broker, and appraiser at Colombo Real Estate.

 

I loved all of my experiences in that field but always wanted to be a teacher so I began taking classes at Fairmont State in the evenings, eventually going full-time on campus and earning my BA in Education in 1984, ten years after graduating from Bridgeport High School in 1974.