Sheedy was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but moved to the Long Island town of Brentwood at the age of 10. She lettered in field hockey, volleyball, softball and basketball at Brentwood High School and walso as treasurer of the Leader’s Club, which was the female equivalent of the men’s varsity Letter Club.
After graduating from Brentwood High School in 1972, Sheedy studied business and marketing at Suffolk Community College. In 1975, she began working for MCA Universal Pictures in Washington, D.C., and was written up in Variety magazine after she transferred back to the MCA Universal Park Avenue office and became the first female saleswoman. In 1979, she married Michael Ammirata, a former member of the farm team for the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, Sheedy left her job at MCA Universal to become a stay-at-home mom for her two daughters, Stefanie and Kerri.
She also became a realtor, a profession she continued after moving to San Francisco in 1987.
“We moved back to New York for one year and then moved to Centerville in 1991,” said Sheedy, who worked for the Centerville City Schools food service finance department. “I continued to work for the school district, but then I started my own business, KSK Services with $350 out of my house. KSK stood for Kathy, Stefanie and Kerri. We were a printing and packaging company creating labels and other products.”
Sheedy resigned her position in the school district as the company prospered. Within five years, KSK Services was bringing in $1.2 million a year. As the company grew to 32 employees, production was moved to a warehouse in Washington Twp., and finally to a 12,000 square foot facility in Dayton.
Meanwhile, Sheedy volunteered in the school district as a speaker in the marketing classes and teaching interview skills to disabled students.
She also volunteered with Junior Achievement, was on the board of Young Life as a certified youth mentor and a team parent liaison for the Junior Olympic Volleyball.
When she and her husband divorced, they lost the business and two homes they owned in Centerville in the process. With her business gone, Sheedy worked full time as an evening supervisor at Victoria’s Secret Direct and part time in an administrative position at Christ’s Church in Bellbrook. She eventually left Victoria’s Secret Direct for a full-time position at Christ’s Church.
“I volunteer for woman support through the Family Resource Center in Bellbrook and do outreach for Christ’s Church and a church in Dayton,” said Sheedy, who was thankful that both her daughters were outstanding volleyball players and excellent students and were offered scholarships at Anderson University in Anderson, Ind.
“I’m so proud of my daughters. They’ve both gone on and done so well.”
Stefanie Ammirata McDonald is a 2000 Centerville High School graduate, who was in Young Life, the National Honor Society, editor of the school newspaper and a volleyball player. She earned a degree in secondary education and a minor in French at Anderson University where she currently is assistant coach of the women’s volleyball team. She is married, and works full time as a teacher at Pendleton High School.
Kerri Ammirata is a 2001 CHS graduate who went on to become captain of the volleyball team at Anderson University. She earned a fine arts degree with a minor in social services. She volunteered with Big Sisters while in college. After graduating from Anderson University she was accepted into the graduate art program at Boston University where she studied with English painter, John Walker. She traveled to China with Walker to exhibit and worked two summers at Chautauqua in New York before graduating and being offered one of four internships in the Spartanburg, S.C. Hub Bub Community Artist’s Program. To see Kerri Ammirata’s artwork, visit kerriammirata.com.
Contact this columnist at (937) 432-9054 or jjbaer@aol.com.
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