We had a fun group of friends in junior high, girls who were running around and just plain running (city and school track meets). I probably played every sort of team sport with Daria for many years, and remember those times as great times in my life. Unfortunately for me Daria was very good at most sports, as I was okay in some and better in others. But we always had fun, winning or losing team. Daria is someone I would have loved to reconnect with at a reunion, but we've lost her to this earth. See you again my friend.
Daria and I were really close not only at HBHS but in junior high as well. I was at her wedding in Las Vegas right after we graduated. I lost touch for a while but reconnected some years later when she was living back east in Massachusetts (I think). She had divorced by then and was trying to put her life in order.
Some years later, after the last reunion, I found her again. She had a found a wonderful life partner and they had been together for many years. Daria, always the strong, take charge person I knew her to be was fighting breast cancer. She had gone through surgery once only to find that it had resurfaced on the other side and again faced surgery to remove it. After a radical double mastectomy, God decided she had been through enough and brought her home. She never told me about it. I found out after she passed from her life partner. Always the strong, never scared person, she didn't want to worry anyone.
The last time I saw Daria, she was so excited about getting married right after high school to a military man,
( I think if my memory serves me correct). She was smiling ear to ear. That's how I will always remember her.... that smile. Great athlete,strong personality, strong woman to the end I bet. God Bless.
