Mary D'Errico (Sasala)
Class of 1978
Mary was very active in Girard High School. She was a Varsity letter Basketball player for 4
years, a Varsity letter swimmer on the swim team for 4 years, and a letter softball player for 2
years. She was in student council for 4 years and student council president her junior and senior
years. Mary also had excellent grades in school where she was in the top 10% of the class and
was a member of the National Honor Society. Mary graduated in 1978.
Mary was active in Girl Scouts from 2nd grade through her senior year and earned her First
Class from the GSUSA – Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She was selected for a
1978 Wider Opportunity to attend a one-month trip to Tanzania, Africa with GSUSA. Mary was
a counselor at Girl Scout summer camps throughout college in Texas and Pennsylvania where
she taught young girls, the importance of self-respect and leadership. After college, she
continued being active in Scouting. While working at the Verland Foundation, she was granted
time off to work at the World-Wide Association of Girl Guide and Girl Scouts Conference in
Tarrytown NY; the United States was the host country in 1984. Mary was a member of Penn
Lakes Girl Scout Council, serving as the first Vice President while at Hamot. She was a Girl
Scout leader in Girard and Milford. In addition to giving back to the community as a leader in
scouts she also was a founding member of the Elk Creek Rec Board. In her time working with
the board she helped get many programs up and running.
Mary attended the University of Pitt Johnstown her freshman year before transferring to Slippery
Rock State College. She was a member of the Parks and Recreation Club serving as Secretary
and President. Mary was a member of Rho Phi Alpha the Parks and Recreation Honorary. She
continued her Girl Scout affiliation with the Campus Girl Scouts, as President her Junior and
Senior years. Mary was also on the Board of Directors for the Keystone Tall Trees Girl Scout
Council while at Slippery Rock. She graduated in May of 1982 magna cum laude with a degree
in Therapeutic Recreation with an emphasis in Adapted Aquatics.
Professionally, Mary has been a part of the educating young people to learn to swim for over 40
years. In addition to teaching swim Mary has held positions at many organizations as a
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist to use aquatics to care for individuals with intellectual and
physical challenges. Mary has assisted families in multiple communities that had children with
special needs by guiding them and their parents to utilize all available social and developmental
programs to help them succeed. As a substitute teacher, she has had a positive impact on her
students by keeping them engaged and maintaining the fun in learning. Mary is respected by her
peers and favored by her students for her energy and enthusiasm in the classes she instructs.
Mary is married to Ed D'Errico since 1987 and together they have raised two children Katie and
Matthew. Mary had a hand in coaching both Katie and Matt in their community sporting
activities. She was Katie's Girl Scout Leader – kindergarten through 12 th grade. She was Matt's
Cub Scout Leader – kindergarten through 5 th grade and then encouraged him throughout his Boy Scout years. Mary and Ed are avid outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy their three grandchildren.
