Gina S. Pinto's Obituary
Decatur – Gina S. Pinto, retired Professor of Business, a founding faculty member, and first Chairman of the Business Division of Richland Community College in Decatur, IL, passed away on August 18, 2014.
Mrs. Pinto was born in Elbert, West Virginia, on January 14, 1930 to Severino and Teresa Siddi. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Economics from West Virginia University. After moving to Decatur from Ontario, Canada, she did post-graduate study at the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, and Eastern Illinois University.
She married Frank J. Pinto, Jr. on August 25, 1956, in Morgantown, WV. They enjoyed 25 happy years before he preceded her in death on May 25, 1982.
Mrs. Pinto ended a 43 year teaching career in 1995. She was one of the 16 original faculty members hired at the Community College of Decatur in 1972 where she served as Chairman of the Business Division developing the curriculum and programs in business.
Prior to teaching at Richland Community College, she taught in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, was Assistant Professor of Business at Fairmont State College in Fairmont, WV; Instructor of Education at West Virginia University; and taught in the rural high schools of southern West Virginia. Since her retirement, she completed the Master Gardening Program through the University of Illinois Extension Office.
Mrs. Pinto’s volunteer and leadership roles included: past president and founding member of Monarch Chapter, ABWA; past president of Zonta of Decatur, and past president of Prairie Land Kiwanis International, past secretary of American Association of University Women. She served on St Mary’s Hospital Advisory Council, St Patrick Church Financial Advisory Board, long range planning committee and as their Stewardship Director, and Civic Committee chair of the Metro Decatur Chamber of Commerce. She also served two terms on the Springfield Diocesan Board of Catholic Education.
Her recognitions and awards included: Excellence in Education Award and Faculty Member of the Year at Richland Community College, American Business Woman Association’s Woman of the Year, the first recipient of Zonta Club’s Woman of Excellence Award, Delta Kappa Gamma Education Honorary, Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who of American Women, a lifetime member of the National Education Association and a lifetime member of Delta Zeta Sorority.
She also loved travel, antiques, gardening and especially her grandchildren.
Surviving is daughter, Mary Kay (Philip) Thompson, four grandchildren – Stephanie (significant other Kevin), Courtney, Charles ‘Chip’ (fiancée Emily) and Evan Thompson, sister, Ida Marino, of Morgantown, WV, niece Maria Marino Potter and three nephews Sam (Shelly) Marino, David (Jacki) Marino and Michael Dombek.
A special thank you to all the nurses, CNA’s and staff at Heartland’s Arcadia Unit for all the care, attention and love they gave to Gina and to Dr. McCormack and Safe Haven Hospice for making everything easier.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00pm, Friday, August 22, 2014 at St Patrick Catholic Church, with Fr John Burnette and Fr Don Wolford concelebrating. Visitation will be also at St Patrick Catholic Church on Friday, August 22 beginning at 1:00pm. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery, Decatur, IL.
Memorials are suggested to St Patrick Catholic Church, St Mary’s Hospital Foundation, Richland Community College Foundation, or St Teresa High School.
The Pinto family is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2801 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL 62526. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.moranandgoebel.com.
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