Meet your neighbor: Teri Gagliano

Published 9:52 am Wednesday, April 13, 2011

By Buddy Roberts

sports@newsaegis.com

It was half-past 10 on a recent Friday morning, and Teri Gagliano was on the air at WFHK, co-hosting the Swap Shop and engaging in witty repartee with John Simpson.  

She’d just selected eight-year-old Isaiah Jefferson was the winner of the day’s birthday prize giveaway.

“What’s an eight-year-old going to do with a Walmart gift card?” Simpson wondered.  “That might be enough to get him a game, maybe?”

“Mercy, no,” Gagliano replied.  “Not the ones my kids want, anyway.”

Off the air, she talked more about her daughters, the radio station, and why she loves living in Pell City.

WFHK in Pell City:  She’s been associated with the station for the past five years, doing everything from broadcasting sideline reports at Panthers football games to vacuuming the carpet at the office. “We all jump in and do whatever needs to be done.  We have a lot of fun.  We’re more of a family than co-workers.  I know a lot of people say that about where they work, but it truly is that way here.”

Her family:  She and her husband Michael have two daughters, Carly, a junior at Pell City High School, and Ronni, an eighth grader at Duran South.  They attend Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church and are avid supporters of Panthers athletics. “Carly plays basketball and softball, but Ronni’s not much for athletics.  She might break a sweat or a nail, so she’s going out for dance line this year.”                                                             

The best part of being a mother:  “Watching what your children learn from you and others.  You can see bits of your personality in them.   You pray that you have instilled in them a belief in God, and when you see that come to fruition and they give you a kiss and say, ‘Thank you for all you do, Mom,’ that’s the best part.”

Why she enjoys living in Pell City:  “It has a small-town feel, which is exactly what we were looking for when we moved here.  It’s very kid-friendly and has been a great place to raise our children.  The lake is an added benefit for my husband, who loves to fish.  Our church was a big draw too.  It was very friendly and welcoming, and it has a lot of youth activities.”

How she spends her leisure time:  “The lake, the beach, and anything outdoors that involves my family.  My kids are my leisure.”  

The best advice she ever received:  “Always tell the truth.  Put God first in your life, your family second, and your career third.  That will keep your life in balance.”

Her favorite vacation:  “Disneyland.  The place I want to go but haven’t been to yet is the Grand Canyon.  That’s on my bucket list.”

If stranded on a desert island with one book, meal, and CD, her choices would be:  “My Bible (she prefers the New American Standard version and keeps her grandmother’s family Bible in her den), lasagna, and Jimmy Buffett.”

The movie she’s watched the most number of times:  “Remember the Titans.  It’s a true story with the great message that people who work together as a team can get through anything in life.  And it’s got great music.”