TimesLeader.com

January 7
Remembering Janet Rothenberg

Lauren Termini Abington Journal Correspondent

When United Sports Academy took over Keystone Gymnastics, Dima Raynova, owner of the Dunmore facility was in search of a new name for the winter gymnastics competition that is always held in January. Raynova wanted the name of the meet to have a valuable meaning and decided to honor the memory of her former student. The meet, scheduled for January 10 and 11 this year at the Dunmore Community Center is now the Janet Rothenberg Memorial Meet.

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Janet Rothenberg during her senior year at Abington Heights High School.

Photo courtesy Deede Rothenberg

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Keystone Gymnastics level 8 girls team after winning a team placement at a meet. Front row, from left: Lauren Termini and Janet Rothenberg. Second row: Omar Egas, Rachael Castro, Meghan Nugent, Erika Seager. Third row: Julia Rudolph and Colleen Goodwin.

Photo courtesy Deede Rothenberg

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“As a teacher, I would like to think I teach my students something more than just gymnastics, such as hard work, goal setting, time management and overcoming challenges,” said Raynova. “I am happy when my students are part of our family for a long time and when older gymnasts come back to visit. This is my way to keep Janet as part of our future. That means more to me then any medal or trophy.”

A $1,200 scholarship in memory of Rothenberg will be awarded to a senior gymnast attending the meet. It will be presented on Sunday, Jan. 11, to the most deserving senior who has demonstrated high academics, community involvement and athletic achievement.

“We are thrilled to have Janet remembered in that way, it is really kind of special,” said Deede Rothenberg, about her daughter, the late Janet Rothenberg. “I can’t say enough how grateful we are to Dima (Raynova).”

“Janet would always say, ‘I am not a cheerleader who does gymnastics, I am a gymnast who cheers,’ ” said Deede Rothenberg.

In July 2004, just a month after a departure for the study abroad program Semester at Sea, Abington Heights graduate Janet Rothenberg became ill while visiting China. An undiagnosed tumor at the base of her brain had caused her death during the summer after her freshmen year at the University of Pittsburgh.

“Her goal was to visit every country in the world,” said her mother.

Family and friends from all parts of the country came to offer the Rothenberg family support. Their daughter had touched so many lives. There were many stories to tell. Rothenberg was always trying new things, never worried about what others thought and fit so many travel opportunities and activities into every month of every year.

Classmates who had the pleasure of traveling with Rothenberg during Semester at Sea shared stories with her family about how she was always trying to make the best of every situation. Her mother was told that one evening, the boat wasn’t able to dock and many people began to complain, but Rothenberg began to entertain those around her by doing back handsprings.

“Janet was very friendly, she had a bubbly personality and was a great team player,” said Raynova, Rothenberg’s coach. “She was always open to new things and the fact that she learned Russian really impressed me.”

Rothenberg started gymnastics, informally, at the age of one. Around four, Rothenberg’s mother moved her to a gymnastics club and eventually found a home at Keystone Gymnastics in Dunmore, where the child quickly excelled in the sport.

Rothenberg was a member of the girls’ team at Keystone Gymnastics for many years and, as a Level 8 and 9 gymnast, was a regional qualifier three times. She was a decorated gymnast who came alive on the floor, where her music was “Tomorrow” from her favorite Broadway musical “Annie.”

Although gymnastics was always her preferred sport, Rothenberg had many other passions throughout her 19 years. In her junior year of high school, she performed the lead role as “Annie” in Abington Heights High School production of the Broadway musical.

With her time limited, due to the theatre production, Rothenberg moved to a recreational gymnastics team that was less demanding then the competitive team. Soon after her role in “Annie,” she became involved in the Keystone Extreme Team, the gym’s competitive cheerleading squad. In the fall of 2003, she began her freshman year of college at the University of Pittsburgh. With her gymnastics and cheerleading background, she was selected for the Pittsburgh Panthers cheerleading squad.

“Janet’s passion was people,” said her mother. “She loved traveling, meeting people and learning about their culture. She also never seemed to lose track of old friends. I would get condolence letters saying she would never forget birthdays, and things like that.”