Crampsie receives award after years of giving
Family, children and music have been a special part of Kathy Crampsie's life for so many years that she will readily, and laughingly, admit she never seems to get tired of saying yes to them when they ask her for help.
A prominent face throughout the Panther Valley community for decades, the public has come to know Crampsie for her beautiful singing talent, whether it is at the hundreds of weddings or funerals in which she has sung, or for the awesome music ministry that she brings to nursing homes, churches or public events.That commitment to people, which Crampsie says brings her "a joy that I love," will be recognized on St. Patrick's Day when the Panther Valley Irish-American Association honors the mother of four and grandmother of eight by presenting her the 2015 Shamrock Award.The 67th Annual Banquet of the association will be held at the Summit Hill Community Center, beginning with a social hour from 6-7 p.m., followed by the dinner and the program.As humble a lady as Crampsie is, when asked about her selection as the Panther Valley's "Irishwoman of the Year," she said, "I'll cry now … I am really humbled and honored. Gosh, when I thought about some of the other women, Agnes McCartney, Sr. Mary Florence, Loretta Bonner, Margaret Kozuch, I thought, 'Wow.'"But her selection is no surprise to members of the association in general, and its selection committee in particular, said Emmett P. McCall of Lansford, one of the committee members, who said, "She has touched so many lives, including some of our association members' personally, and so our committee is very happy and thrilled with Kathy's selection. I think wherever you go, almost everyone you talk will tell you that Kathy has had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many people that it is unbelievable."Early startCrampsie's presence in the community is something to behold. Almost 40 years ago (1977, to be exact), a proficient guitarist and soloist since she was in the sixth grade, she responded to a request for help in the weekly bulletin of her parish church, St. Joseph Catholic, Summit Hill, and never looked back."The church was looking for someone who played the guitar and I volunteered," she remembered. Decades later, not only has her talent become well-known throughout the region, but Crampsie has affected hundreds, maybe thousands, of youths and adults who became involved in ministry through music."I had a great support system in my family," she modestly said, noting she and husband Bob, who incidentally received the Shamrock Award in 2007, went on to become "ships passing each other" during the many years that followed. "It was a joint system," she said.Her role in music ministry seemingly became limitless. Besides starting the guitar group, which appropriately became known as "Kathy's Angels," she mentored scores of young boys and girls aspiring to musical careers.Crampsie became an active and leading participant in St. Joseph Catholic Church choir and its music ministry, and then started a children's choir that has performed at area nursing homes around the holidays, as well as having sung the national anthem at a Philadelphia Phillies game.At Our Lady of the Angels Academy, she provides music ministry for Friday Mass. And at Panther Valley High School, she is the familiar director of the annual Harmony Scholars program, which helps to raise scholarship money.Moreover, Crampsie has been a longtime participant of the American Cancer Society's telethons, for which she was awarded at the Carbon-Tamaqua Unit's annual volunteer banquet.She is also well-known for her role in the Christians in Harmony local music group that appeared at numerous churches.The joy of musicThrough it all, she says, "I've enjoyed every minute of it. I love the joy music has brought to people, and just being able to have a positive effect on somebody is a great feeling."She looks back on over a hundred weddings she sang for, and now sees children of some of those couples, thinking, "It's so nice to be a part of people's lives."Crampsie is quick to tell you, "The nicest thing is that I always got respect from all of the kids, whether it was a church event or a school event. And to help kids learn how to play, to see them develop confidence in themselves, is a special and rewarding feeling."The former Kathy Mangan of Tamaqua, she is a daughter of the late Regina Mangan of Summit Hill, formerly of Tamaqua, and the late Joseph Mangan of Philadelphia. She is one of three children. Her siblings are Joseph of Summit Hill and the late Frannie Mangan."I am so proud to be receiving this award. It's overwhelming," Crampsie said, adding, "I think of my mom and my sister, and I know they would've been proud too."Yet while music has been a huge part of her life, Crampsie played numerous other leadership roles as a parent and community volunteer.She is a current CCD volunteer instructor/aide for the Catholic community of the Panther Valley and is the secretary of the Summit Hill Lions Club, for which she serves as the eyeglass program coordinatorHer past activities include cheerleading coach at Panther Valley High School, Our Lady of the Valley School and for the Summit Hill Knee Hi Association; coach for Summit Hill Girls Softball; and volleyball coach for Our Lady of the Valley.A 1974 graduate of Marian High School, she and Carbon County Controller Bob Crampsie celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last year.She began employment with the Vermillion Dental Clinic in Summit Hill in 1979 as a part-time dental assistant and became the office manager before retiring to take care of grandchildren.The couple has four children, Colleen, wife of Gino Giantesano; Kara, wife of David Nocek; Michael and his wife, Melissa; and Meghan, wife of Daniel Blazosky. They are the grandparents of eight: Taylor, Cole, Lina, Gino, Carlin, Danika, Jack and Quinn.Tickets to the dinner can be obtained from the following association members: Summit Hill, Bob Crampsie and Billy O'Gurek; Lansford, Emmett McCall; Coaldale, Robert Ames and Tim Hoben; and Tamaqua, Tom McCarroll and John Tracy.