Barbara Ann Premaza (b. October 15, 1952, d. December 13, 1989)
Barbara Ann Premaza (daughter of William Premaza and Elizabeth A. Terifay) was born October 15, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA, and died December 13, 1989.
Notes for Barbara Ann Premaza: from father (7/19/2003): She was considered marginally retarded and marginally epileptic. She had a seizure while taking a bath and her death was recorded as an accidental drowning. She was 37 but lived 20 more years than projected.
After graduating from high school in 1970 she worked in a sheltered workshop located in Melbourne. This facility provided handicapped adults a pay check and a work place that produced products and provided services under contract. It is still in operation today. At about age 22, it was decided Barbara needed to move away from the home and our direct parental care if she had any hope of living an independent life. This turned out to be a tough decision but the right one for her. She entered an experimental Sheltered Independent Living Facily (MacDonald's Training Center) (located in Tampa Florida was recommended to us nd Barbara was accepted as a candidate. The original Tampa Bay Bucs, neighbors to the center, was the largest of many sponsors that financed this program for handicapped adults over 21. Barbara was in the first group that moved from a 100+ dormitory living style to a 9 girl living facility. Then she was in the first group of girls that moved into an independent 3 girl apartment in 1980. They had a supervisor that visited with them almost daily, taught them how to budget, shop, use transportation from their apartment etc. It was a very successful culmination of a long experiment. All 3 girls worked, took care of themselves, resulting in basically 3 sisters sharing an apartment. Today Mac Donalds is operating about 40 apartments and own many homes around Tampa Florida. The Tampa Bay Bucs are still their main commercial sponsor but millions of dollars are donated each year from many sources. I am proud of her short history.
During her final year on this earth she made peace with her mother after a long haitus, worked full time at a hospital in Tampa, became engaged to be married to a fellow shelter young man, but no date was set for their marriage. My wife Carmen became her surrogate mother, teaching she and her two sisters, the social graces, including makeup, hair styling, proper dress codes, etc.
More About Barbara Ann Premaza: Date born 2: Temple University Hospital.
Barbara Ann Premaza (b. October 15, 1952, d. December 13, 1989)
Notes for Barbara Ann Premaza: