(Note: Diane is an honorary aunt and a near contemporary of the nine Magelli children, all of whom grew up under Grandma and Grandpa Magelli’s roof during their formative years).
Education & Early Life
Born on March 28, 1943, Diane Stephana Kasich (née Kasycz) Hoemeke entered a family rooted in immigrant resilience and hard work. Her early life was shaped within a multi-generational heritage established by her maternal grandparents, Biagio Magelli and Mary Mareta Magelli, who had immigrated to Illinois and served as the cornerstone patriarch and matriarch of their family in Mt. Clare.
Diane is the daughter of Rose Magelli and William Kasich, who were married in November 1941.
Growing up, Diane had a strong role model in her mother, Rose, who built a career as an executive buyer and manager for Sherman’s Apparel Stores.
Her mother worked in Springfield, Ill., during the week and returned to Grandma and Grandpa Magelli’s Mt. Clare home on weekends. Being raised by a dynamic, working woman within the close-knit sphere of her extended Italian-American family provided Diane with a grounded and supportive upbringing.
Diane lived with Grandma and Grandpa Magelli until she was 15. Then, she joined her mother in Illinois’ capitol city.
- High School: Attended Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield, Illinois, where she was an exemplary student with strong interests in mathematics and history.
- College: Bachelor’s Degrees in Mathematics and History at St. Louis University
- Master’s Degree in History of Eduction at University of Illinois.
Teaching & Professional Career
- Teaching Experience: Taught advanced mathematics at Billy Ryan High School in Denton, Texas.
- Academic Leadership: Served as an academic reviewer for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
- Community Leadership: Led educational initiatives for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Texas.
Hobbies & Interests
Genealogy & Historical Preservation: Preservation of family heritage, history, and records, including sharing photos and maintaining family documentation. Diane helped herd the Magelli cats as they lobbied for consensus on the recipes in the Magelli Family Cookbook. After all, the contributors all believed only their version of each recipe was original to Grandma Magelli.
Educational & Lifelong Learning: Active participation and leadership in adult education programs (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) and mathematics education.
As she reached adulthood, Diane embarked on her own family journey, marrying Thomas “Tom” H. Hoemeke on August 20, 1966. Together, they established their primary residence in Denton, Texas. While Tom developed a distinguished career in higher education administration—serving as the Director of International Programs and Services at the University of North Texas and holding a leadership role with the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars—Diane built her own life and home alongside him in Denton, where they raised their family and have built a lasting community presence.
