March 12, 1946 - July 1, 2020
IF YOU KNEW PAM LIKE WE KNEW PAM, OH, OH . . . OH, WHAT A GIRL! It is with a broken heart that we say our dear, sweet Pam left us on July 1, 2020. Fortunately, she also left her family and friends a legacy of rich memories, happy times and many special and creative accomplishments. Oh, what a girl! Pam, our dear Pam, will live in our hearts forever and always. -- THE CIACCIO AND STONE FAMILIES
A FIGHTER TO THE END. Christin, her daughter, said, "My mom fought harder than anyone I’ve ever seen, and endured more than I’ve ever witnessed over the past 4 1/2 years, battling her illness. Her spirit remained in tact despite all of her hardships. She loved her friendships, and enjoyed her phone calls catching up with friends up until as recently as the last week in June. Her voice still sounded so strong, as it always did. With unimaginable braveness, she never, ever, revealed the severity of her illness.
It’s been so comforting to read her journal writings, and I will treasure them as a gift from her for the rest of my life. Here is one passage from her journal I hope and pray has come true now that she is no longer suffering . . ."
"Maybe tomorrow I can claim to be mine. Just mine. No more notes to doctors. No more rushing for medical appointments. This day will go like this: Awakening to sunshine pouring through my window. Listening to the nervous chirping of the birds. Gazing at the blazing red flowers. Sipping fresh coffee on my patio. And chuckling at someone walking by with floppy shoes or wild hair.
My aching feet will walk away with me: By the pool, where I can sit in the sun and listen to the splashing fountain. Where I can pretend that I am on a magical beach by the sea. Where I can discover the “me of me.” The inner being which has propelled me for over four years of sickness, when many people do not even live 2 years, or even one. Hopefully, this day will allow me to realize my inner strength. Hopefully."
Mom tried with all of her might to live for each day, and her positive spirit will forever be an inspiration to me. Finally, I would like to leave you with an excerpt from her writings, one that I found especially touching, from the many entries she wrote in her journal each day.
"God, if you are hiding behind a cloud, please come out! I’m waiting. Touch my head and I’ll love you. Come into my soul. I’m waiting. Reach inside. Let my angels cover me with their soft wings, to love and protect. I’m waiting."
THE LOVE OF HER LIFE. The love of her life was her husband of 47 years, Jack Ciaccio. He said, "Today I lost my wonderful, beautiful wife. But more than that, I lost my best friend. She stood by me through hard times, never complaining and always supporting me. No greater love has any man had than the love Pam had for me.
I will always remember her spirit and love of life. Always happy. Always positive. Always forging ahead to the next challenge. She never met an obstacle she couldn't conquer. And did.
"ALWAYS " is what I wrote on the inside of her wedding ring when we married. It meant I will always love and cherish her. Then. Now. And forever.
I was so lucky and blessed to have her as my wife and mother of our children."
PROUD OF HER HERITAGE. Pam, born in Dallas, Texas, was a kind and loving person who was so proud of her heritage and spoke of it often. Her grandmother, Chloe Clem Sutton, a dynamic teacher and biblical scholar, lived down the street from her for most of her childhood. Pam was the great-granddaughter of J.R. Clem, owner of the Clem Lumber Company in Dallas, and the granddaughter of John Nash Sutton, a well-known builder and developer in Dallas.
Pam's father, R. Jerry Stone, Sr., was also a well-known developer. He built custom homes and multi-family residences with her mother, Sue La Vonne Sutton Stone. Her brother, R. Jerry Stone, Jr., is a leading apartment developer throughout Texas.
WRITER/JOURNALIST, AUTHOR, TEACHER, REPORTER, PUBLIC SPEAKER. Pam specialized in writing about women’s and senior issues for: Family Circle Magazine, USA Weekend, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Seattle Times, Rocky Mountain News and others. Many of her features were syndicated by The Los Angeles Times and New York Times.
She was the author (Pamela Stone) of A Woman’s Guide to Living Alone: 10 Ways to Survive Grief and Be Happy, Taylor Trade Publishing, Dallas, TX, 2001. Pam then became a national spokesperson by conducting women in transition workshops throughout the nation. She appeared regularly on Dallas- KDFW-TV's "Good Day" and spoke on National Public Radio, among others. Early in her career, Pam was also a TV news reporter for PBS Channel 13, KERA-TV, Dallas, as well as a writer/reporter for the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Times Herald and The Los Angeles Times.
As a teacher, Pam created her own non-profit Creative Arts Program: Learning About Me – a Child’s Introduction to the Arts, for children ages 3 to 11. As the Director, she hired and trained Art and Drama teachers to assist her. Starting with just 10 children, she grew her program to over 200. She offered creative arts classes in Dallas at St. Marks, Greenhill, Highland Park Presbyterian Day School, Lovers Lane Methodist Day School, Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, and others. She also created an after-school enrichment program, held at Dealey Recreation Center for neighborhood children.
EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AWARDS. Pam graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, with a B.A. in Speech and Drama -- plus post-graduate studies at Trinity University, held at the Dallas Theater Center under Paul Baker. Pam was a member of the Society for Professional Journalists and Women in Communications. Her awards included 3 Texas Matrix Awards, the Associated Press Managing Editors Award, and Associated Church Press Award.
SURVIVORS. In addition to her husband, Jack, survivors include her daughter, Christin Ciaccio Briggs and husband Paul Briggs and grandchildren Leo and Luke Briggs all of Glendale, CA; her son, Jacque S. Ciaccio, Houston, TX; siblings R. Jerry Stone Jr., Sue La Vonne Stone, Cindy Stone Bordovsky and Sandy Stone Fuglaar.
Pam was preceded in death by her parents, Sue La Vonne Sutton and Robert Jerry Stone, Sr. and by her brother, Nash Sutton Stone.
MEMORIAL SERVICE AND DONATIONS. Due to the pandemic, a memorial service will be held at a future date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, we have created a donation page to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory of Pam. She was always so distraught over the lack of funding for Pancreatic Cancer research, so we know she would be happy to see more done to save people like her. Here is the link to the donation page: http://support.pancan.org/goto/pamciaccio
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