Play It Again, Sam
by Cate Murway
“I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you wanna go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.”
Samantha [means Listener] Renee Cordisco, BHS ’08, named after her mom’s sisters, quite obviously gives thoughtful attention and consideration to everything in which she is involved. With her positive, cheerful outlook and leadership abilities, Sam has earned the respect of her fellow students at BHS, who recently voted her “Most Likely to Succeed.” She knows what she wants and she goes for it. Sam is willing to give 100% and doesn’t take "no" for an answer. Her ability to communicate often inspires others and she has assumed a role in life to inspire and motivate, to present an unquestionably optimistic attitude that is rarely disheartened. Why are some people born with a fire to succeed, while others need something to get their pilot light lit or never get the flame of ambition going at all? Samantha, 2nd in her class of 86, is consumed with the need to achieve, never content to accept and settle for whatever life brings. Her ambitions are full of energy and determination and her disarming smile solidifies her sincerity.
Wherever her future takes her, it’s a sure bet that Samantha will always find time for random acts of kindness. Surprisingly, her favorite program is FOX network’s “House” starring Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House who is devoid of bedside manner and wouldn’t even converse with his patients if he could get away with it. She does appreciate how this brilliant diagnostician’s unconventional thinking and flawless instincts solve medical puzzles and saves lives!
“And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.”
BHS began their field hockey season with the longest winning streak of any area team this 2007 season with a 6-0, prior to their Bicentennial Athletic League Christopher Dock game. The key defense/midfield performer and National Honor Society student is a confident person who seems ever enthusiastic about life and living, easily able to raise the spirits of those around her. The team captain proudly shared, “ The Road Warriors are actually coming home and will hopefully have our last 2 games at home.”
Her parents, the CFO of the MBA Credit Union and past President of the Bristol Lions, Stephen David, Delhaas H.S. ‘79/Rider University ’83 and podiatric medical assistant and member of the BHS Mother’s Association, Barbara Joyce [Denike], BHS ’82 who met while they were both employed at Cesare's Pizzeria on Haines Road, attend as many games as possible. Steve Cordisco is also the Business Manager of St. Mark Church. They have set tough but realistic challenges for Samantha, applauded her successes and have produced a very self-confident daughter. Her grandparents too are such a significant part of her life. Bristol Township residents Dave and Betty [Marozzi] Cordisco who are “Granny” and “Pop-Pop” to everyone and Dorrance Street resident Joyce [late husband, Richard] [Cook] Denike are her fervent BHS cheerleaders. Her best friend is her cousin, 4th in her class, Nikki Mosco, who is just 2 months and 10 days older than she. “We do EVERYTHING together!”
“But more than anything, more than anything...
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold”
From the age of 3 to almost 9 years old, Sam commanded time and space while studying and competiting in dance for the Vanzant Dance Academy in Levittown with her friends. She participated in St. Ann/St Mark CYO soccer and basketball, sports is her true love, and ended her soccer career as a District 19 champion with a perfect undefeated 19-0 season in 2003. Sam is also a hardworking and dedicated softball athlete, having developed her batting skills and mastered fundamentals starting in a 5-year-old tee-ball league at the Memorial Fields.
“Field Hockey is my sport; I’ve just clicked with it. There’s nothing better!” Sam adamantly professes. The allure of hockey camp started her field hockey venture. She admits, “I was horrible at it.” But determined athlete that she is, she worked through being “bad at it” to become an impressive leader with her yellow “captain” shin-guard strap and has been a strong contributor to the success of the BHS program starting every game since her sophomore year. Every ounce of her is committed to being better, stronger, improving her technique, training to be smarter, developing her self-confidence, and getting totally inspired about her potential. Sam is self- demanding, immersing herself in the sport and innately knows that great players are created one at a time! Focused, intensive training is essential to improvement.
She “loves Chemistry” and aspires to be a Pharmaceutical Technician, working in research and development program labs creating medicine. Her top school choice is University of Pittsburgh, among the nation's most distinguished comprehensive universities but an application to MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology], a private, coeducational research university devoted to the advancement of knowledge and education in the environments of science and technology will be in the mail.
“Best Lawyer” in 10th grade and “Best Witness” last year, Sam developed her critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices and procedures through engaging in trial simulations in Mock Trial competitions with teams from other high schools.
Her graduation project described the intellectual and cultural climate of the 1920’s and 1930’s. She was imaginative in her presentation and earned a perfect score on her slide show and an outstanding for her paper on the late Walter Elias Disney’s effect on the Zeitgeis [a German expression meaning "the spirit of the age"; "time (Zeit) spirit (Geist)"]. “Who doesn’t like to write about cartoons and Walt Disney?” she asked.
“I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret
and you help somebody every chance you get,”
Everything isn’t all about school and sports. Sam was one of the 14 high school students the YWCA of Bucks County honored for their volunteer work and service to their community, as part of the Bucks County Teen Volunteer of the Year Awards Program.
The Anthony Robbins Foundation and the Newtown Athletic Club are co-sponsors of the awards with the YWCA. She received a $50.00 savings bond and is truly proud of this recognition for her part in many town projects. She helped with T.A.G. or TOWNS AGAINST GRAFFITI, the landmark cooperative program formed through a public partnership between several neighboring townships and Boroughs. Sam participated in the annual “Shop with a Cop” charity event sponsored by the Bristol Lions Club, tutors anyone who needs help in anything in “study parties”, and is an active part of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. She was assigned to “Dr. Flood’s” old office on Historic Bristol Day and worked with JoAnna Schneyder, of First Service Bank, who sincerely complimented Samantha’s participation.
Mary Frances (MaryFran) [Danis] Ziegler, owner of “Danis’ Deli & Catering
shared, “Samantha worked as a deli clerk/ cashier this June through to her field hockey season. She was very ambitious and attentive to the customers. I would have loved for her to work longer!”
Student Council member and Vice President of her class, Sam is vivacious, friendly, loving and social, and a charming, intelligent conversationalist.
“Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more than you take.”
There are still plenty of empty pages in the yearbook.
“Play it again, Sam!”
“and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish”
[“ My Wish” Lyrics by Sam’s favorite, the Rascal Flatts, an American Country Pop band formed in Nashville, TN in 2000]
Recommend a Spotlight: vjmrun@yahoo.com
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David P. Cordisco
Bucks County Courier Times
David P. Cordisco of Bristol died suddenly Monday,
April 20, 2009, at his home. He was 78.
Dave was a retired contractor with Worthington Associates, where he was employed for 35 years.
He was an active member of St. Ann Church, the Columbus 500 Foundation, the Holy Name Society, Bristol Senior Center, and a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Dave was a caring, loving, gentle man who was loved by all. He enjoyed volunteer work for St. Ann Church. He was an avid hat collector and made a social event out of grocery shopping. Dave loved spending time with his family and was an avid gardener. He had just planted his summer crops for the season. Dave also enjoyed visiting the Atlantic City casinos with his wife.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna (DiOdati) and Phillip; a sister, Angelina; and a brother, Vince.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Elizabeth (Marozzi); his children, Cindy and Gary Brodsky of Bristol, Kathy and Perry Roscioli of Levittown, Steve and Barbara Cordisco of Bristol, and David and Jill Cordisco of Levittown. He is also survived by his grandchildren whom he loved greatly, Justin, Kenny, April, Ryan, Nicholas, Anthony, Samantha, Kyle and Brooke; his great grandchildren, Giovanni and Camryn; and his "grand-dog," Newton. He is also survived by his sisters, Josephine and Marie; his brothers, Gene and Phillip; and many nieces and nephews.
Dave will be sadly missed by everyone, especially those at Bristol Fuel, where he visited every Thursday to talk, shop and enjoy coffee and bagels.
Family and friends are invited to call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 to 10:15 a.m. Friday at Galzerano Funeral Home, 430 Radcliffe St., Bristol. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Ann Church. Interment will follow in St. Mark Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Gulf Tower, 707 Grant Tower, 37th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1916. Galzerano Funeral Home,
Samantha Renee Cordisco
Sam and her grandparents
