“Even though she died, she beat cancer.”
Shippensburg University library department chair Kirk Moll remembered fellow librarian Ashley Stang Esposito for her spirit and fortitude.
Esposito died of synovial sarcoma, a rare type of cancer, on Oct. 4 at 32 years old. Living in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she worked at SU’s Ezra Lehman Library as a collections and development assessment librarian for two years.
Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, Esposito graduated high school as the salutatorian. She went to college and earned two masters degrees in English and library science.
She was highly organized and kept everyone on his or her toes, Moll said, describing her as driven and focused. Esposito worked with students in classes and one-on-one to help with research, and she was also a library liaison for several academic departments.
It was her dream job and she dove right into it when she was hired, said Sara Pike, the library’s technical services and systems manager. Pike said she loved teaching and working with students, and she brought a light and sense of enthusiasm with her.
Struggling with cancer for 19 months, Esposito found peace in her deeply-rooted faith, Moll said.
Esposito knew the cancer would significantly shorten her life, but she remained peaceful and confident, Moll and Pike said. Though there was pain and sadness, she did not let that get in her way, Moll said.
“She fought through it to the last moment,” he said. SU faculty and administrators gave Esposito meals and helped her to her doctors’ appointments.
“Our time with her was too brief,” Moll said. “She was just a lovely person.”
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