In 1964, she volunteered for the newly formed Peace Corps, teaching English in the Philippines for two years. Upon returning, she got a well-paying job with Bell Telephone, but was unhappy with it and returned to teaching at Sacred Heart after just three months. "She knew corporate America wasn't for her," Cate Nied said. Teaching was her mother's first love. "Her grade books are still in the house. If I brought home some of the grades she dished out, I'd be in trouble," she said. "Her students were very fond of her." Ms. Nied earned a master's degree in history in 1968 by taking evening classes at Carnegie Mellon University. She taught part time at Sacred Heart while raising her three children. She became a research specialist at the University of Pittsburgh in 1990 after Sacred Heart closed in 1989. Pitt is one of 10 universities participating in a study of the impact of early child care on the social, economic and cognitive development of children by following them from birth to age 15. About 120 families were involved locally, and Ms. Nied visited most of them, Campbell said.
Obituary for Philippines RPCV Mary Margaret Nied
Forest Hills researcher played vital role in federal study
By Brian C. Rittmeyer
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The success of a large-scale federal study into early child care and youth development owes a good part of its success to the efforts of Mary Margaret Nied, who interviewed parents and children over 17 years.
"Most people don't stick around on a job like this for the whole time," said Susan Campbell, a professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh in charge of the research. "I really feel our ability to keep our families in the study was substantially due to Mary's efforts."
Ms. Nied, of Forest Hills, died at home on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. She was 67.
A native of Swissvale, Ms. Nied continued her work on the study, sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about 20 months ago, said her daughter, Cate Nied, 26. She retired last year.
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"She was given three to six months to live. She fought pretty hard. She never complained. Her motto is, 'Act normal and keep marching,' " Cate Nied said.
Described by her daughter as an "Irish Catholic Republican," Ms. Nied earned a degree in history and education from St. Francis College in Loretto in 1962. She taught high school English and history at the former Sacred Heart High School in Shadyside.
In 1964, she volunteered for the newly formed Peace Corps, teaching English in the Philippines for two years. Upon returning, she got a well-paying job with Bell Telephone, but was unhappy with it and returned to teaching at Sacred Heart after just three months.
"She knew corporate America wasn't for her," Cate Nied said. Teaching was her mother's first love.
"Her grade books are still in the house. If I brought home some of the grades she dished out, I'd be in trouble," she said. "Her students were very fond of her."
Ms. Nied earned a master's degree in history in 1968 by taking evening classes at Carnegie Mellon University. She taught part time at Sacred Heart while raising her three children. She became a research specialist at the University of Pittsburgh in 1990 after Sacred Heart closed in 1989.
Pitt is one of 10 universities participating in a study of the impact of early child care on the social, economic and cognitive development of children by following them from birth to age 15. About 120 families were involved locally, and Ms. Nied visited most of them, Campbell said.
"She was able to connect with families across a very wide spectrum. People were really eager for her to come and visit. They were willing to participate and stay in the study. We had among the best retention rates of all the sites in the study, and we credit Mary for that," Campbell said.
"She touched a lot of lives," Cate Nied said.
Survivors include two sons, Matthew Nied of Forest Hills and Patrick Nied of Swisshelm Park; a daughter, Catherine "Cate" Nied of Shadyside; a brother, Jack Molyneaux of Swisshelm Park; two grandchildren; and a niece. She was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Molyneaux.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday at the Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home, 7441 Washington St., Swissvale.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Anselm Roman Catholic Church in Swissvale.
Brian C. Rittmeyer can be reached at brittmeyer@tribweb.com or 724-779-7108.
