Wednesday, December 29, 1999
Deaf teacher marks milestone
BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
As her mother Clarita watches, Maryann Barth (center) kisses Lauren Pfister at Mrs. Barth's birthday party.
(Yoni Pozner photo)
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On her first birthday, Maryann Gindele helped Greater Cincinnati usher in 1951 on the front page of The Cincinnati Enquirer. As Cincinnati prepares to welcome another year, Maryann's parents hope her life can inspire others.
“What she has done with her whole life has been an inspiration to everyone she has touched,” said Maryann's mother, Clarita Gindele of Mack.
Maryann Gindele's life started like many others. She attended St. Jude Elementary and Mother of Mercy High School. She worked as a secretary at Procter & Gamble Co. She met Paul Barth and became Mrs. Barth in 1973. They had three children. She attended Thomas More and earned a bachelor's degree.
But when Mrs. Barth was 28, she learned she was slowly losing her hearing. She became deaf.
Mrs. Barth had learned sign language with a neighbor who had a deaf son. Mrs. Gindele told her daughter maybe this was God's plan. Mrs. Barth didn't miss a beat.
She earned her master's de gree in school counseling from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a university for the hearing-impaired.
Since 1990, she's been at St. Rita School for the Deaf, where she teaches high school English and psychology. Her family threw a surprise 50th birthday party for her last week at St. Rita.
Mrs. Barth walked into the cafeteria to see family, friends and dozens of excited students, applauding by holding their arms over the heads and wiggling their fingers.
Lauren Pfiester hugged Mrs. Barth no fewer than half a dozen times. The 16-year-old ninth-grader from Arlington, Texas, called Mrs. Barth her favorite teacher.
“That's because I'm taking her to the airport for vacation tonight,” Mrs. Barth joked.
Between hugs, Mrs. Barth answered questions about her life with the help of interpreter Sally Monahan, St. Rita's school counselor. She doesn't see herself as an inspiration.
“Everyone has choices in their life, and you have to make the right choice for yourself,” she said softly.
School Director Greg Ernst said Mrs. Barth's can-do attitude and success does inspire students.
“The students identify with her because she's coming from their background,” Mr. Ernst said. “Whenever there's a barrier there, she says "We've overcome them before.'”
Mrs. Barth's goal for the new year is to “give my students what they need to be successful,” she said.
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