6 minute read
The Imprianos: Family, First and Foremost
Resident Feature by Liz Burnett
Photos courtesy of Shannon Lynn Photography www.ShannonLynnPhotography.com
Every family shares many experiences as they live together. You’re about to get acquainted with a large and active Newtown Square family that may have perfected the art of happily working, learning and playing together!
Brad Impriano and his three brothers grew up in Broomall, and they all attended Marple Newtown High School (MNHS). During high school summer vacations, they all worked at their family’s business, Impriano Roofing & Siding, founded in 1973 by their dad, Jack Impriano. Brad and his brothers all started working there full-time after graduation, and they’ve all worked there ever since. Brad quickly learned the skills and know-how required to help grow the family business. Now, Impriano Roofing & Siding serves 5 counties in southeast PA and northern Delaware. Jack Impriano is President, and Brad manages the day-to-day operations and logistics. This family-run and familyoriented business taught Brad how a family can work happily and successfully together year after year.
Heather Impriano grew up near Chambersburg, PA. After graduating from Penn State in 1997 with a degree in Marketing and International Business, she moved to Malvern, to work for Unisys, in Marketing for their Computer Systems Hardware Division.
Sometimes meetings that happen “by sheer coincidence” end up becoming lifelong relationships: Heather and Brad were introduced to each other in early 1998, by Brad’s best friend who was dating one of Heather’s friends, a former college roommate. That introduction lasted only a few minutes because Heather was heading out to a business dinner and meeting that night. “But that’s all it took, I guess,” Heather said smiling. That little introductory spark ignited a romance, and in September 2000, they got married.
The Impriano Family (left to right): Luke, Ella, Heather, Brad, Camille and Madilyn
Photo courtesy of Shannon Lynn Photography www.ShannonLynnPhotography.com
By 2006, Brad and Heather, now parents of two young children, decided it was time for Heather to stop working at Unisys so she could be a full-time mom. That’s also the year The Imprianos moved to their home in the Upper St. Albans neighborhood of Newtown Square.
For the past 10 years, Brad and Heather have studied Tang Soo Do, the more traditional version of Taekwondo, both of which are martial arts disciplines that originated in Korea. They’re students at Kwon’s Martial Arts Academy, and are both 3rddegree Black Belts (very skilled and accomplished). Their familyfirst philosophy motivated them to introduce all their children to this form of martial arts training because it’s one of the few activities that they can all participate in, benefit from and talk about together. Being committed students who take lessons several days each week has helped them all develop confidence and self-defense skills, respect for themselves and others, strength, flexibility and endurance of body, mind and character. And being such long-time students at one local academy has also helped them meet other kids, families and adults who share that same interest and commitment to such a disciplined and rigorous form of personal development.
Since 2008, the Impriano Family has attended Newtown Square Presbyterian Church. The services and the church family have been wonderful parts of their Newtown Square community life. Last year, Heather started working there as the Church Office Administrator, a position she feels quite blessed to have because it allows her to still be very involved with the children and their activities. She often volunteers at their schools and also serves on the MNHS Band’s Executive Board.
(left to right) Ella, Luke, Madilyn and Camille Impriano
Photo courtesy of Shannon Lynn Photography www.ShannonLynnPhotography.com
Now, meet Brad and Heather’s kids! Luke, a 10th-grader at MNHS, plays trumpet and trombone in the Marching, Jazz and Concert Bands. As a Track & Field team member, he participates in Shot Put and Discus. Luke’s also on his school’s swim team and on the St. Albans Swim Club team each summer. He’s a Boy Scout in Troop 315, and was part of a Cradle of Liberty Crew that experienced high-adventure hiking and backpacking for two weeks this summer at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. And since age 6, Luke has studied Tang Soo Do at Kwon’s, and has achieved 2nd-degree Black Belt
Madilyn is an 8th-grader at Paxon Hollow Middle School. Since age 5, she has studied Tang Soo Do, and is now a 2nd-degree Black Belt also. At Paxon Hollow, Madilyn does cross-country and track, plays cello in the school orchestra, and looks forward to being in the Jazz Band. Every summer, she enjoys being on the St. Albans Swim Club team. When Madilyn attends MNHS, she’ll probably continue with track, join the swim team, and do color guard or cross-country each Fall. As a member of Paxon Hollow’s Science Olympiad club, she enjoys the research and activities required to serve as a team member at inter-school competitions, so much so that she’s considering a career in Engineering or Science.
Ella, age 10, is in 5th grade at Culbertson Elementary School. She plays the flute in the Tiger Band, whose members come from all Marple Newtown School District elementary schools. Ella also studies Tang Soo Do, and is a Cho Dan Bo (the level before Black Belt). She’s also a Junior Girl Scout, dances at From the Top Studio of Dance, and is on the St. Albans swim team. Ella also enjoys caring for her pets: An Abyssinian guinea pig named Cookie and two African dwarf frogs named Karen and Pearl. Ella thinks she’d like to work as an FBI Agent someday.
Camille is a 2nd-grader at Culbertson. She likes to “have sleepovers, because you get to play ALL night!” Camille also likes caring for her pet Robo Dwarf hamster named Chubby. She’s in a Brownie troop; she’s also a dance student with Miss Sheila at From the Top; and she’s a Green Belt in Tang Soo Do. Camille eagerly looks forward to being on St. Albans’ Mini swim team next summer.
This busy family also has two large dogs, Gretchen and Fae, who found a loving home when the Imprianos adopted them from Providence Animal Center in Media. As dogs often do when you’re out walking them, they’ve helped the Imprianos meet and make friends with neighbors who also have and/or love dogs.
The Imprianos (left to right): Ella, Luke, Heather, Camille, Brad and Madilyn
Photo courtesy of Shannon Lynn Photography www.ShannonLynnPhotography.com
And what does this hard-working family of committed learners do together for FUN? Brad, an avid gardener, uses produce from the family’s backyard vegetable garden to make and bottle his own hot sauce and cans of salsa every year. His oldest brother’s family lives near the high school, and those Impriano cousins are close in age to Brad and Heather’s kids, which makes for frequent and often impromptu fun family gatherings. Most summers, Heather, Brad and their kids enjoy an extended-family vacation with Heather’s Chambersburg-area relatives when they all camp and enjoy the beach at Chincoteague Island. And Brad’s relatives gather frequently every summer at the Impriano family home in Stone Harbor.
Whether working, learning, or having fun, The Imprianos keep family first and foremost, front and center, and cherish all those years of happy memories. They’ve also mastered the art of working, learning and having fun with their extended families: Their church, their schools and those who share their sparetime interests. Busy? Sure. Worth the time and effort? They say “Absolutely!”
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