| Graduation Year | Class of 1967 |
| Date of Birth | Aug 12, 1949 |
| Date of Passing | Apr 16, 2016 |
| About | Claudia K. Tufano (nee Cramer) was born August 12, 1949 in Mansfield, Ohio to Stanley and Annabel Cramer (nee Haire). She is the younger of two children, the daughter of a Mason. She attended the First United Methodist Church of Mansfield and was a member of the Methodist Youth Fellowship in Junior and Senior High School. As a child, she was so excited to receive her first sewing machine that she wasted no time making her own clothing, and spent hours doing so. She graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 1967 with her best friend Cindy Dorner. They did everything together. Mom went on to The Ohio State University. It was at The Ohio State University that Claudia met her husband; Bob and Claudia were so much in love they married in 1970, before graduation. She graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. After graduation the newlyweds went on to join VISTA and live in LaFayette, Indiana. They later settled in Columbia, Maryland, where they bought one of the first homes built in the area. In Columbia, Claudia worked at Head Sportswear as a pattern designer. She was an expert pattern maker and seamstress, and over the years designed and manufactured many of her own dresses and costumes. Claudia made fast friends wherever she went. In the late 70s, she met long time friends, Cheryl and Lisa, in aerobics class. Claudia and Cheryl went on to start an aerobics company called AEROB-A-CIZE, and performed all over Columbia, including the Columbia Lakefront at Columbia Festival of the Arts. Even while pregnant with her second child, Claudia taught Jazzercise. This explains a lot about Allyson! Claudia had two children-Adam and Allyson. While raising them, she held down numerous jobs while attending nursing school at the Howard Community College, and later the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. All of Claudia’s nursing positions were in labor and delivery-she loved working with expectant mothers and babies. She had a unique sense of humor, and often coupled her dinner time stories about placentas and hospital mishaps with uproarious laughter Her children were horrified. As Claudia’s career stabilized she was able to pursue another passion: dancing. With her then partner, she danced often, and began training for dance competitions, making it to the Bronze level in Ballroom dancing. She continued to dance until the end of her life, whether it be in the ballroom, shaking and rolling her shoulders in the car, headbanging in the house to Adam’s punk music, or bopping her hands in the air to the beat. She was one woman who definitely HAD rhythm! Claudia worked for a number of years in labor and delivery, and in her early 50’s decided to pursue a long time dream of becoming a midwife. She dove head first into a full time midwifery program at the University of Maryland, while also working 12 hour weekend shifts in labor and delivery. She graduated in 2002. Claudia had another great passion - her faith. From an early age she was a member of the Church. She participated in the Methodist Youth Fellowship at the First United Methodist Church in Mansfield, and as an adult she passed along her religious traditions through the birth of her children, who were both baptized. After years in the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, Claudia discovered a non-denominational Church in the early 90s, and the strength in her faith was enlivened. She was baptised again in the mid-90s; her belief and advocacy in Jesus Christ never faltering. That faith carried her on mission trips to Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti to care for people in desperate need of both medical care and salvation. It was after her trip to Honduras that she was diagnosed with lung cancer - and began her epic battle. After her cancer diagnosis, Claudia underwent surgery and chemotherapy. It was only after two years cancer free that a tumor was discovered in her brain. As in all things in her life, she made it through treatment with flying colors. She never lost sight of her conviction, determination, or enthusiasm, sailing through radiation to dance at her son’s wedding, and be present at the birth of his daughter. But the complications of treatment, coupled with some of the most unusual and uncommon diseases, took their toll on her body. Along with her faith, Mom’s spirit never faltered. She may no longer be with us, but her love, life, and faith remain. |
| Events | Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Mansfield Memorial Park. Friends may call one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road, Ontario. |
