Obituary of Bernadette Angela Mineo

Obituary of Bernadette Angela Mineo

 

Bernadette Angela Mineo passed away in her sleep, on Monday, 7/27/2020, two days shy of her 62^nd birthday.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Alberta (Tesser) Mineo and Joseph Mineo, and her beloved husband Louis Filosa of 30 years, whom she stood beside as he lost his battle with cancer in February, 2020.  She leaves behind her artistically gifted daughter, Samantha Filosa, her sister Thais Mineo-Bollmann and a niece, Ariana, and nephew, Matthew.

 

Bernadette grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where she attended South Shore High School. Bernadette attended New York University’s Occupational Therapy Program, where she was able to combine her love for both science and art. While completing her degree in occupational therapy in 1980, Bernadette created a 28-minute video documentary, entitled “Jenine” that received several awards and is part of the Donnell Film Library, NYC Public Library. She went on to receive a Master’s degree in Media Studies from the New School for Social Research.  She was able to combine her passions for art, culture, and education as she received a PhD from New York University’s Department of Culture and Communication’s program in Media Ecology.  There, she studied under Dr. Neil Postman, writing a dissertation entitled “Computer Conferencing and Online Education: Uncovering the Assumptions.”

 

As a pediatric occupational therapist, Bernadette worked with young children with developmental and emotional issues and their families. She was able to weave in an academic path that included faculty appointments as adjunct instructor and adjunct associate professor at NYU School of Education and as Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Touro College, NY.   In 2005, she became the Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at A. T. Still University of Mesa, Arizona.  There, she became a tenured full Professor, and developed post-professional online programs.  In 2014, she stepped down as Department Chair and continued on as Program Director of Online Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Programs. Bernadette worked as a consultant for academic and community program development.  She has been instrumental in launching the careers of many students and mentoring others in their professional development. 

 

Bernadette’s passion for wellness, social justice, and philanthropic work, in conjunction with her belief in the potential of all humans, shaped and structured the way she approached education, her interests, and her activities. Bernadette was a mentor to all who knew her. She supported her students, her colleagues, and her friends in their personal and professional growth. Building upon her skills and passion for mentoring, Bernadette was launching a program as a coach for individuals pursuing their doctoral degrees and the establishment of her own dissertation coaching private practice.

 

Bernadette was also an artist, favoring the visual arts through mixed media, painting, and printing. She was an active member of the Taoist Tai Chi Society, was part of the editorial board of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy since its inception and participated in many other academic or community committees. Consequently, she developed a wide network of friends and colleagues who will miss her creative and visionary spirit.

 

There will be a private viewing for family members only, on Monday, August 3^rd after which she will be cremated.  She will be interned at Riverview Cemetery in Portland, alongside her husband, Lou. 

 

No flowers please. Information to be set up soon regarding donations to an account for her daughter, Sami’s education.

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