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This month, Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors is pleased to introduce you to The Persichetti Family: Greg, Susan, Blase, Steele and Cruise. This active family of five certainly knows how to enjoy life! Whether traveling near or far or welcoming friends and neighbors into their beautiful home, the Persichettis are always ready to make memories.
Susan (Barnett) is no stranger to our community and the spotlight. She is a six-time Emmy Award-winning Journalist who was a prominent news anchor with CBS3 in Philadelphia. We welcomed Susan into our homes as our morning anchor from 2005-2008 and then as CBS3’s evening news anchor at 5, 6 and 11 pm through 2013.
Susan is originally from Levittown in Bucks County and is the youngest of six children (four boys and two girls). She attended James Buchanan Elementary School, Neil Armstrong Middle School and graduated from Harry S. Truman High School, where she was a cheerleader, served as Class President, and was involved in musical theater, student council and the ski club.
After graduating high school, Susan went to the University of Delaware (UD) to pursue a Fashion Merchandising degree. “Honestly, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted for a career when I first got to college,” Susan explained. “One of my room-mates was a journalism major, and when I learned more about her classes, I knew that was the field I wanted to be in.” She graduated from UD with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in history. Susan also served as vice president of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega.
Susan said much of her success in college and her career stemmed from her time competing in pageants. “I began competing in the Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA Pagent in high school,” Susan said. “The first time I entered, I was named a finalist, which was very exciting! I went back the following year and won the title in 1990.” Susan went on to compete and was named a finalist in the Miss Teen USA pageant that same year. Then, in 1996, Susan was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA, becoming the first former Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA to win the Miss Pennsylvania USA title.
“I had the most amazing experiences, gained a lot of confidence and made many lifelong friends while competing,” Susan said. “Beyond that, my nationally televised pageant interview actually served as a springboard for my television career.” Susan explained that television producers often look for talent during these pageants, and it wasn’t long before she got a call from a WDTV news producer in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Susan accepted an entry-level anchor position and set her sights on working her way up the ladder.
She did just that and enjoyed a very successful career behind the news desk until 2013 when Susan decided it was time to focus on her family. “I had a crazy, full-time schedule and three little kids at home,” she recalled. “I had just returned my assignment abroad covering the selection of Pope Francis, which was an amazing opportunity and experience I will never forget. My contract was up for renewal, and I just knew in my heart that I
needed to be with my family.”
Susan has no regrets about her decision. She was able to be fully present in her children’s lives and now enjoys watching them grow into young adults.
Now that the kids are older and more independent, Susan has decided to reinvent herself and pursue her long-burning passion for real estate. She joined the Gary Mercer Team with Keller Williams Realty. “I absolutely love connecting people with properties that shape their future and create loving living spaces for their families.”
Greg hails from the western part of our state. He was born and raised in Blairsville, PA, where he lived with his parents, brother and sister. Greg graduated from Blairsville Senior High School, where he played football, tennis and ran track. He stayed active in college, playing NCAA football, tennis and ice hockey at Washington and Jefferson College, graduating with degrees in both Spanish and Music. “My choices of study offered me the opportunity to spend time in Mexico and also travel around the United States writing, composing and performing music,” Greg explained. “I have recorded albums in Nashville and Philadelphia and currently have my music streaming on all major platforms.”
“While I enjoyed my courses of study and the opportunities it afforded me, at the same time, I was very interested in exploring a career in the medical field,” Greg said. “So much so that while earning my degrees in Spanish and Music, I decided to take pre-med required classes.” After graduating from Washington and Jefferson College, Greg was accepted to study at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). He spent the next four years at LECOM, then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, a residency in Dermatology at Nova Southeastern University and a Fellowship in MOHS Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa.
Greg said he particularly liked studying dermatology, specifically MOHS Surgery, because it is the perfect blend of medicine, pathology and surgery. MOHS surgeons treat skin cancer through a highly specialized technique that removes cancer in stages, one tissue layer at a time. The proce-
dure offers the maximum removal of cancer with minimum damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. “I’ve enjoyed a rewarding career in med-
icine, surgery and caring for my patients,” Greg added. “I’ve also been fortunate to have been able to write, record and perform
my music through it all.”
Greg and Susan’s paths eventually crossed when a mutual friend introduced them in 2002. “At the time, Greg was an Internal Medicine Resident at Mercy Hospital, and I was working as the morning news anchor at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh,” Susan said. “Greg knew who I was from watching the morning news during his hospital rounds but didn’t realize that my co-worker at the station, Rebecca, was married to one of his fellow residents.” Determined to make a match, Rebecca and her husband threw a party at their home, invited Susan and Greg, and the rest is history.
The happy couple dated for one year before Greg popped the question. “Greg loves to put on a good performance,” Susan laughed. “True to form, he surprised me one night after work, dressed in this outrageous suit, a ring in one hand and camera to capture the look on my face in the other.” The planning began, and Greg and Susan married in August 2004, surrounded by family and friends in Newtown, Bucks County. “We were married at the same church as my parents, Saint Andrew Catholic Church, which was incredibly special,” Susan said fondly.
By this point, the newlyweds were living in Hollywood, FL, where Greg was doing his dermatology residency and Susan was an anchor and reporter at CBS Miami. They knew that their time in Florida was temporary, and Susan said she and Greg really wanted to settle down in PA to be closer to their families. After Greg’s residency ended, they were able to do just that when Susan accepted an anchor position with CBS in Philadelphia. The plan was for them to build a home in the suburbs while Greg temporarily moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to complete his fellowship in MOHS Surgery.
“It was definitely a hectic time for us,” Greg said. “We were building a home in Aston, Susan was working full-time and living with her parents during the construction and we found out we were expecting our first child!” They laughed as they remembered just how crazy things were. “One of the best
memories I have of that time was when I boarded a plane for Des Moines with our 10-day-old infant to spend my maternity leave with my husband as a family,” Susan said.
Time sure does fly, because their oldest son, Blase is now a Senior at Penncrest High School who plays wide receiver on Penncrest’s Football Team, he runs track and loves to play drums. “Blase is humble and kind,” Susan said. “He enjoys working in food service at White Horse Village and recently
volunteered with Saint Simon & Jude’s Western Virginia Appalachian Service Project.”
Next up is fourteen-year-old Steele, who is in eighth grade at Springton Lake Middle School. Greg said that Steele is confident, outgoing and has a big personality. Steele plays quarterback, linebacker and cornerback on the football team and is an integral member of the school’s lacrosse team.
Rounding out the Persichetti crew is Cruise, Greg and Susan’s thirteen-year-old daughter who is in seventh grade at Springton Lake Middle School. “Cruise is a blend of her older brothers,” Susan said. “She is independent, capable and determined.” Cruise spent her younger years dancing and training in gymnastics but now excels playing on her school’s volleyball team and midfield and defense on the lacrosse team.
Last but certainly not least are the Persichetti’s two bernedoodles, four-year-old Maggie and three-year-old Meadow. “They’re both goofy and loveable in their own way,” Susan said. “Maggie is low-key and reserved and lays with her paws crossed like a lady, while Meadow is wild and crazy and loves
to lay on her back all spread out!”
Home for the Persichettis since 2009 has been on a beautiful seven-acre property in Edgmont. “One day, we happened to be taking a leisurely drive around the area when we spotted a newly-built home with a for sale sign in the yard,” Susan explained.
“We immediately pumped the breaks, pulled in the driveway, took a look around and instantly knew we were home.” Greg added that everything about it was perfect and they have loved living in and raising their family in our community ever since.
“We have made so many friends here,” Susan said. “We live very close to the Summer Hill community and from day one, the neighbors have embraced us.” Some of their favorite memories are trick or treating in Summer Hill, enjoying fall festivals on the Blosinski’s farm and hosting an annual end of the school year pool party. “Our neighbors have truly become our best friends,” Greg and Susan agreed. “We celebrate holidays
together and our kids grew up playing together and now all play sports together. We even travel together!”
Speaking of traveling, this active family of five prepares for fun by packing their passports and venturing to places like the Canadian Rockies, Alaska, the Galapagos Islands and Europe.
“We especially love winter vacations to ski and snowboard,” Greg said. “We are in the process of renovating a mountain house in Vermont, and we are really looking forward to spending a lot of time there.” Susan and Greg also enjoy taking the kids to their place in Morris (Tioga County) which is located in upstate PA. When sun and sand are in the plans, they like to travel to Bethany Beach, DE, take the kids on all-inclusive island adventures and set sail on exciting cruises.
No matter how far this family may travel, they are always grateful to come home to Newtown Edgmont. Susan and Greg agree that this community is full of families who share many of their values. “Living here has been a wonderful experience,” Susan said. “Over the years, we have created many great memories and look forward to so many more!” Sounds like you found the perfect place to unpack your bags.
Do you know a Newtown Edgmont family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.