Today's City Face is retired Johnson Elementary teacher Alice DeFazio. Learn about her here! 

 

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

 

I was raised in the North View section of Clarksburg. We purchased our first home there, but decided to move to Bridgeport after my parents built a home here. We found a home on the same street as theirs and have lived here for 27 years.

 

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

 

I am married to Mark DeFazio. This month, we will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. We have two adult children. Maria lives and teaches in Charlotte, NC, and AJ currently lives in Memphis, TN, but recently accepted a position as an IT Service Transmission Manager with Molson Coors in Milwaukee, WI, and will be relocating there soon.

 

What about pets? 

 

We are the proud grandparents of Austin, a three-year-old Australian Shepherd. We love to spoil him when he visits, and sometimes keep him for extended periods when we can. Our daughter recently  got a “Pandemic Puppy," a Tea Cup Yorkie named Milano. We haven't met him yet, but have been able to FaceTime with him. We are looking forward to meeting him and spoiling him too.

 

Where do you work and what do you do there?

 

I began teaching at West Milford Elementary School, and  transferred to Johnson Elementary after 20 years, retiring in 2015. In total, I taught for 39 years, all in Kindergarten. I still substitute, mostly at Johnson. I also supervise Student Teachers at WVU who are placed in Harrison County. This year, all of my Student Teachers were placed at Simpson Elementary. It is enjoyable to mentor young teachers and share some of my enthusiasm, ideas, and passion about teaching with them.

 

What are your hobbies/favorite past times? 

Everyone that knows me can tell you I love working out. I enjoy Zumba, Yoga, and Body Pump classes regularly, and am an avid walker. 

 

What is your favorite Bridgeport spot?

It would have to be The Recreation Complex! That’s my favorite place to walk, while watching the construction of the Indoor Recreation Center. It has been exciting witnessing that from the very beginning. I am looking forward to seeing and enjoying the finished building.

 

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

This community has been a great place to raise my kids. They have made lasting friendships here, while also getting a top-notch education in the Bridgeport Public Schools. It is also a place where you can see progress everywhere you look. People here support forward thinking, which is amazing to see in such a small town!

 

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

 

I would have to say watching my kids participate in school and community activities. Several of my close friends today are the parents of my kids’ teammates. We have remained close and have loved watching our kids grow into adulthood together-most of them with kids of their own now. I also have many cherished memories of more than 400 students I had in my Kindergarten classes at Johnson. The end of every year was always sad for me. I can’t imagine how the teachers today are dealing with seeing their students for the last time on March 13. My heart breaks for them and their students.

 

What is your favorite WV spot outside of Bridgeport?

 

Mountaineer Field watching football games and The Coliseum watching basketball games. There is nothing like watching the Mountaineer Marching Band take the field for their pre-game show. It still gives me chills and brings tears to my eyes!

 

How about your favorite place outside of WV? 

Punta Gorda, Florida and the beaches of Southwest Florida

 

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

I am Italian and am partial to Italian food of any kind. We love Twin Oaks Pizza, Mountaineer Grill, and Mia Margarita. 

We have tons of red clothing at our house, but blue is my favorite color! My favorite music genre varies between Country and Pop, and my all time favorite group is The Eagles. 

 

What is your best childhood memory? 

I have many memories of our family packing the red Coca Cola cooler with picnic items and driving to one of the State Parks or landmarks of West Virginia for the day. My Dad always brought the movie camera to document our trips. Several years ago, he had all of our home movies converted to DVDs and made a copy for each of my siblings and me. Those are priceless.  

 

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

I honestly can’t think of anything else that I could add. My life has been pretty ordinary, but I have been richly blessed with good health, a wonderful family, amazing friends, and many former coworkers that have impacted my life as a person and an educator.