Virginia McDermott

1932 - 2025

Virginia McDermott
April 2, 1932 - November 7, 2025
Virginia Amalia Lily Picarelli McDermott-Schleuse was born in Greenwich Village in1932. Virginia was a devoted mother of five successful children, an accomplished pianist and artist, a Phi Beta Kapa graduate from Queens College of the City University of New York, with an M.S. in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University.
Virginia's parents, Frank and Mary Picarelli, both immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s and opened a bakery on Bleeker Street in New York City. Her father was a master lithographer in Italy and eventually became licensed in the United States and opened a successful lithography and printing business that Virginia's family continues today. Her mother was a skilled seamstress who worked in the garment district of New York City. The family moved to St. Albans, Queens, where Virginia graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. She adored her three older brothers, Tom, Joe and Hank, the first two of whom served in World War II.
Virginia married John J. McDermott in 1952 and raised five children, Marise McDermott, Michele McDermott, David McDermott, Brian McDermott, and Tara McDermott. She was beloved by all of her grandchildren, James Grizzard, Julia Grizzard, Damon Chandler, Devon Chandler, Sean McDermott, Maia McDermott and Coya McDermott. Virginia was preceded in death by her granddaughter Maia McDermott. Virginia loved keeping up with great-grandsons Liam, Emerson and Niko. She was Aunt Rigin to her nephew and nieces, Tom, Frank, Emily and Joan. Virginia was close to all her children's spouses, including Hollis Grizzard Jr., Tom Chandler, Elenoa McDermott, Lori McDermott and Kent Calder.
In her early years of raising a family on Long Island, Virginia typed John's M.A. and Ph.D. theses, and helped to shape and edit John's early publications in American philosophy. As Professor of Philosophy at Queens College, John arranged to teach summers in California, and the family of seven, shepherded by Virginia, crossed the country four times, visiting almost every state.
Virginia's growing family moved to Huntington Village in 1960. An accomplished swimmer, Virginia made sure all her children became great swimmers, taking lessons in the Long Island Sound, and each learned to play an instrument, dance or play sports.
Virginia was an enthusiastic and popular fourth and fifth grade teacher in New York. She was an avid volunteer with the League of Women Voters. She was a life-long learner, attending graduate school in anthropology and pursuing studies in theology.
Virginia taught each of her children how to cook in the tradition of her Italian heritage. She remained close to John's large family throughout her life. Virginia was an elegant host who knew how to keep the conversation lively over dinner with extended family and dear friends who were scholars, artists, musicians, faith leaders and poets.
Virginia traveled widely. In 1972, Virginia and John were invited to join a group of American teachers to visit Russian schools in Moscow and Leningrad as part of a program to open international exchange during the Cold War.
In 1977, Texas A&M University offered John a position as Department Head of Philosophy. Virginia accepted a position as Communications Specialist in the Agricultural Communications Department at Texas A&M Extension Service.
Virginia was supportive of her children's extensive educational pursuits, with each of the children excelling in adulthood, as leaders in museums, medicine, education, environment and libraries. Virginia provided loving support, life lessons, and shared her love of music and art with her grandchildren in San Antonio, Austin, Massachusetts and Oregon.
Virginia continued studies in theology and sang in the choir at the Episcopal Churches of Reconciliation in San Antonio and St. Michael's in Austin.
In 2006, Virginia met William Schleuse, retired psychoanalyst, at FORUM at the University of Texas for Lifelong Learning. They married in 2009. Virginia and Bill embarked on almost two decades of traveling, reading, and gathering with friends and family. Virginia and Bill's family included Virginia's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with Bill's sons and spouses, Martin and Mindy, Stuart and Joachim and Paul and Prescott. Virginia and Bill made many dear friends at Westminster in Austin during their 15 years of residency. Bill died on August 20, 2025, and Virginia died less than three months later, on November 7, 2025.
Virginia's family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date.