Tami Marie LaRoche was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on January 26, 1959 and grew up in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She graduated from Chicopee Comprehensive High School in 1977 then came to Pittsburgh to study at LaRoche College where she met her future husband Bart Solarczyk. Tami graduated from LaRoche in 1981 with a Bachelor's Degree in a double major of English and Psychology. She and Bart married on June 14, 1981. Tami began a career in social services as a Child Care Specialist at Holy Family Institute during her senior year of college and continued after graduation but moved on to pursue her true calling, teaching. She attended graduate school at Duquesne University where she earned a Master's Degree in Education and a certificate in Special Education. Over the years, Tami taught at a variety of schools and settings, beginning at Holy Family Institute and then St. Philomena Elementary School. She was hired by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) and while employed there she served a number of schools and school districts including Steel Valley, Woodland Hills, Sunrise and North Hills. She left the AIU when she was hired by Woodland Hills where she spent the remainder of her teaching career. Tami had a passion for working with children with special needs, especially those with learning disabilities and emotional difficulties. She had a gift for reaching these students and fiercely advocated that they receive the education they deserved. It is no surprise that many of her former students remained in touch with her long after graduating high school. Tami took an early retirement from teaching due to health reasons but soon embarked on a second career working part-time as a Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS) for Southwestern Human Services. This allowed her to continue to work with special needs children in a one-to-one setting and she was beloved by her clients and their families. Tami is survived by her husband Bart Solarczyk and daughter Maryana Stern; brother David LaRoche and wife Helene; sister Donna Rousseau and husband Noris; sister-in-law Mary Gasiorowski and husband Shawn; brother-in-law Barry Holt Solarczyk and husband Gerard; nephew and godson Brian Rousseau and wife Cherie; nephew John LaRoche and wife Nicole; nephew Adam LaRoche; nephew Steven Costello and wife Ashley; nieces Carly Rousseau and Alexis and Emily Gasiorowski; great nieces Gianna and Chloe LaRoche, Emmalia Rousseau and Ellie Costello; special aunt Judith Leazott and many others she called friends and family. Tami was predeceased by her parents Edward LaRoche and Jeanne Leazott LaRoche as well as maternal grandmother Exina Leazott, whom she loved dearly. Tami touched many lives both personally and professionally and she will be missed for her compassion, generosity, sense of style, quick wit and cutting sense of humor. She loved to laugh and share laughter with others. Tami loved animals and over the years she and Bart provided a comfortable home to many rescued cats and dogs. Donations can be made in her memory to Pet Search.
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