Although she claims that a stage career was never in her wonder ball, Rose Pernice recently wowed the crowd at the Civic Center with her rendition of Sophia in the hilarious Neil Simon play "Fools." This was Rose's latest success in a long list of accomplishments.
Born in Brooklyn, she devoted the first part of her professional career to early childhood and developmental education. After teaching and holding various administrative posts on the New York City Board of Education, she accepted a position as supervisor of the regional Head Start Program, assuming responsibility for over 500 schools.
Although the bulk of Rose's experience centered in the United States, her facility with languages led to her employment as a resource teacher in Operation Understanding, an Interchange Program for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Later she served as a trainer of West African teachers for the U.S. State Department A.I.D., Sierra Leone.
In 1996, prompted by plummeting temperatures and a brutal noreaster snowstorm, Rose and her ailing mother sought refuge in the Sunshine State. From that point on, they never looked back. After her mother passed away, this active neighbor stepped up to the plate by becoming a member of Safety Now, the community-based organization dedicated to safeguarding the interests of Beacon Woods and minimizing the impact of Wal-Mart on the surrounding area. Always interested in helping others, Rose was involved in organizing the local Shoebox for Soldiers program and since then has been active in supporting other Civic Center activities such as family night, dramatic readings, patriotic commemorative events, and community dances. Recently she was certified as part of the federal first respondents Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) whose purpose is to ensure neighborhood security in time of disaster or terrorist threat.
Thus, we see that there is more to Rose Pernice than meets the eye. She has lived a diversified and rich life keeping the world and local community as a primary concern. Her friends appreciate her for her continued interest in civic affairs, her love of animals, and her modest assessment of her own accomplishments. Although my cat Smokey seems to have more of the answers to life than I do, she states, I've been lucky. I've met many wonderful people and have had many exciting experiences.
And so, we welcome Rose (and her wise feline friend) to the ranks of Notable Neighbor!
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