Memorial Tribute to Dr. Marce Verzaro-O'Brien

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It is with sadness and deep regret, we announce the passing of Dr. Marce Verzaro-O'Brien, former Director of Training and Technical Assistance Services at Western Kentucky University.

Dr. Marce Verzaro-O’Brien, Early Childhood Educator and Leader, passed away in August at her home in Florida, surrounded by Tom O’Brien, her husband of 43 years, and their daughters. At this time, plans for a memorial are being made for later in the year in New York where they have a plethora of family and friends.

We often say in Head Start that Head Start is not a job, it is a calling. For no one was this more true than for our colleague and friend Marce Verzaro-O’Brien. Marce gave of herself - her time, her expertise, and her passion - to the work of our agency day and night for over thirty years. She was guided by both her deep commitment to the values and mission of Head Start and her empathy for the families we serve, 

Head Start programs who came to Marce for assistance found a no-nonsense problem solver with an encyclopedic knowledge of Head Start regulations. New hires at our agency found a mentor who was always available to them, and before long, a trusted friend.

Throughout her years of service, Marce worked with Head Start and Early Head Start programs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the current and former Trust Territories in Micronesia, and American Samoa. She also served as the State Coordinator for the NYS Migrant Child Care Program, and has been on the faculties of Syracuse University, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and the SUNY Colleges of Geneseo and Buffalo. For many years, she was the Administrator of the CAO of Erie County Head Start/Early Head Start Program in Buffalo, New York.

Dr. Verzaro-O'Brien's other experiences include being in the first class of the UCLA Johnson & Johnson Head Start Fellows Program, served as the on-air host and Curriculum Coordinator for a national distance learning demonstration project broadcast live via satellite from South Carolina ETV's Early Childhood Professional Development Network (ECPDN). Throughout the years, she also served on the Boards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Head Start Association, participated in the Texas Tech Master Executive Training School (METS).

Dr. Verzaro-O’Brien served as the Associate Project Director for the OHS National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations during 2011. She also provided leadership to the Florida Office of Early Learning’s Quality Initiative, a project for the provision of training and technical assistance to Florida’s school readiness, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, and other special initiatives, including the revision of the state’s Birth to Age Five Early Learning and Development Guidelines. Marce’s areas of expertise include early childhood education and management, risk assessment, school readiness, child and family outcomes and strategic planning.

Even though Dr. Marce Verzaro-O’Brien was semi-retired from T/TAS, her ties to WKU and the staff remained strong. Most recently she served as the Interim Executive Director providing her guidance and wisdom during Post Covid times.

Marce was funny, kind, and quick witted. We loved her. We will miss her.