The Full Story
The Mevluda Tahirovic
Memorial Garden
Learn more about our Mevluda Tahirovic Memorial Garden located behind the R.R. Smith Center for History and Art.
Background
Mevluda was born in the former Yugoslavia on July 10, 1960. During that country's civil war in the early 1990's, she and most of her family immigrated to the United States where Mevluda eventually became an American Citizen. She met John C. Donnelly, the generous donor, in Florida and they fell in love. John and Mevluda eventually moved to Chicago. While Mevluda never visited Staunton she will always be remembered here.
The Staunton Connection
John’s connection to Staunton and eventually to the R.R. Smith came about through his connection with his friend Scott Ballin, whose family owned property in Deerfield Valley. More than 50 years ago, John would come down from Washington to visit, passing through Staunton, which was at the time a town on its ‘last legs’.
After Mevluda’s passing in 2011, John came to visit and found a town that had revitalized itself because of the commitment of a group of dedicated citizens. He liked what he saw. Saddened by his loss, John wanted to do something to remember Mevluda. His friend suggested a Smith Center ‘memorial brick’ which would have been placed on the floor of the lobby with others waiting for a permanent home. John said that was not enough.
The idea of turning the overgrown, unsightly space behind the Smith Center into a memorial garden was born. With John’s commitment, the development of the space became a "community project" led by landscape architect Bob Mortensen. Individuals and companies gave their services pro bono or at a discount. It was John’s intention that the garden was not to just be a place of remembrance for Mevluda but a place for others to be remembered. He insisted that the 100 plus memorial bricks be placed in the garden and that the space was to not only serve the interests of the R.R. Smith Center but the entire community. The entire project was a labor of love.
Heart and Soul
On May 3, 2014, more than two hundred (200) people including family and friends particiated in the dedication. R.R. Smith’s vision had finally been realized. Shortly after the dedication several people, who had played a key part in making the garden happen, formed what became the Friends of the Mevluda Tahirovic Memorial Garden, committed to overseeing its maintenance and development, but ensuring that the vision and wishes of the generous donor were respected. Since that time the Garden has become and remained an important part of the downtown, an oasis for family and friends to meet, have coffee or have lunch or hold a reception. One visitor remarked, ‘this garden has a heart and soul’.
Friends of the Mevluda Tahirovic Memoral Garden
The FRIENDS of the Mevluda Tahirovic Memorial Garden is an informal, independent group of citizen advocates established at the request of the garden’s generous donor in 2014. Its members are committed to ensuring that the wishes of the donor are respected and carried out, that the garden is maintained and that any changes to the garden are made in consultation with the FRIENDS group.​
​Members of the FRIENDS of the Mevluda Tahirovic Memorial Garden steering committee*:
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​​​​Hal Aaslestad
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Dave Arnold
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Scott Ballin
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Karen Bergmann ​​
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Marc Borzelleca
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Gloria Brandt
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Bob Driscoll
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Sharon Driscoll​​
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Linda Hanna
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Carter Green
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William May
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Cheri Moran
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Angel Negron
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Bob Mortensen
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DwaynePitzenbarger
​*A majority of the FRIENDS Steering committee have served on one or more Boards within R.R. Smith or have brought their specific skills to the table. Particular recognition should be given to Linda Hanna (one of the garden’s steering committee members) and her family, who gave so much in the early days of the Smith Center, including sponsorship of one of galleries adjacent to the garden.