Photo by:Provided

Dorchester County Probate Judge Mary Blunt and her mother, Dr. Lidia Vallarino. Judge Blunt is the “Mirror Ball Sponsor” for the 2012 Dancing With The ARK’s Stars, in honor of her mother, who has Alzheimer’s. Dr. Vallarino is a retired research chemist and professor.

A probate judge whose mother has Alzheimer’s is this year’s title sponsor for Dancing With The ARK’s Stars, a fundraiser for The ARK, Alzheimer’s Family Support Services.

Dorchester County Probate Judge Mary Blunt has agreed to be the “Mirror Ball Sponsor” for the second annual event, in honor of her mother, Dr. Lidia Vallarino, a retired research chemist and professor. The 2012 “Dancing With The ARK’s Stars” will be held Saturday, March 10 at 7pm. The event venue is Eidson Gym at Pinewood Preparatory School, 1114 Orangeburg Road in Summerville.  The proceeds will help to provide critical services for families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

Despite the difficulties that Alzheimer’s disease presents, Judge Blunt clearly still enjoys and loves her mother. “I can’t wait to tell her we are honoring her in this way,” she said. “And I’ll tell her again tomorrow and she will be excited again.”

In the world of chemistry, Dr. Lidia Vallarino, is a pioneer.  In the early 1960s, she left her tenured position at the University of Milano in Italy to join her husband, the now late Dr. James Quagliano, a chemistry professor at Florida State University (FSU). Unfortunately, she found it impossible to obtain a professorship, because “there were few women in U.S. chemistry back then,” she said.   Incredibly, she was not granted a vacant professorship at FSU, even though she authored the chemistry textbook they used.  Because Dr. Vallarino could not teach, she worked as her husband’s assistant there.  Eventually, she re-obtained professorship at William & Mary and finally at Virginia Commonwealth University where she taught and researched chemistry for 30 years.  Additionally, Dr. Vallarino published numerous chemistry texts and conducted research for both NASA and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

In 2008, Dr. Vallarino was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, ending her 50-year career in chemistry.  She retired from Virginia Commonwealth University with the distinction of Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Vallarino has three children, John Quagliano, Peter Quagliano, and Mary Blunt.

ARK Executive Director Peg Lahmeyer said, “The ARK is honored by Judge Blunt’s generosity. Her donation will go a long way toward helping The ARK continue to provide needed services to families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.”

Dancing With The ARK’s Stars features six local celebrities partnered by professional dancers from Carolina Dancesport. Each couple will compete to win the Mirror Ball trophy as The People’s Choice, or become The Judges’ Choice winner. Tickets are $50 per person general admission, and include heavy hors d’oeurves, open bar and great entertainment. You may vote for your favorite dancer online at www.DancingWithTheArkStars.org, for $10 per vote. A silent auction will offer many great items and services from throughout the Lowcountry.

The ARK serves five counties throughout the Lowcountry.  The ARK provides hope and relief to Alzheimer’s families through non-sectarian programs and support services such as respite care, support groups, caregiver consultation, education, resource referrals, Lunch & Learn program, speakers bureau and rural services development.

The ARK provides comprehensive support services to Alzheimer’s families. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the Tri-County area, Colleton and Orangeburg Counties and beyond.  It is an outreach ministry of St. Luke's Lutheran Church. In 2011, The ARK provided 6,382 hours of respite and hosted 225 individuals in Support Groups.  75% of the respite participants attend on scholarships. Currently, in South Carolina, there are approximately 80,000 people with Alzheimer’s disease; however, experts predict dementia case will climb to 125,190 by 2025.  Providing support to The ARK will help keep the doors open and expand services.

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3