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Things to do
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MATT WITTMEYER staff photographer
Stephanie Siuda
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Occupation: Writer at Paychex Inc.
Community activities: Founder of Out of Pocket Productions; produced two plays in 2009 to benefit Avon Walk for Breast Cancer that raised more than $2,000; produced play in 2010 to benefit Gilda’s Club Rochester that raised $850; currently producing Sylvia by A.R. Gurney at Geva Theatre Center’s Nextstage to benefit Lollypop Farm; set to produce Separation by Tom Kempinski in January/February at Geva Theatre Center’s Nextstage to benefit Epilepsy Association and to produce Stop Kiss by Diana Son in March at Geva Theatre Center’s Nextstage to benefit Pride/G.A.G.V. Rochester; president and head of Set Logistics for Penfield Players Theatre Board; member of TheatreRocs, a group representing the theater companies in Rochester; Toastmasters Lieutenant Governor of Education and Training for District 65 (overseeing Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Corning).
My favorite thing to do in Rochester: Act in the numerous theaters that Rochester has to offer.
Biggest challenge I’ve overcome and how I did it: I had a grand mal seizure in 2002, after experiencing petit mal seizures all my life (not knowing they were that at the time). Because of that, I lost my driver’s license for a year and became dependent on friends and family to get around. I felt depressed, as if my freedom to go out on my own had been taken away from me. After a month or two of my “feeling sorry for myself” state, I took my first venture out at independence on my own, learned the Rochester bus system, walked a lot, and found myself again. Since that time, with the help of the Epilepsy Association placing me with a wonderful neurologist, I have found the right medication to control my seizures, have learned more about what I can do when I put my mind to it, and am grateful that I am where I am after what I faced. I also have my license back and appreciate that freedom even more than ever before.
One thing I’ve always wanted to do but never have: Write a book (something fun and fictional).
If I could change one thing about myself it would be: That I’m too hard on myself.
The talent I would most like to have: Dancing. I have two left feet.
The one thing I can’t live without: Chocolate … oh, and my husband.
My favorite movie: Dangerous Beauty.
One of my favorite sayings is: “Hold, please.”
A person who has inspired me (and why): My mother, Diane Roosa. My mom has owned numerous businesses from a dress shop (named Miss Stefanie’s) when I was younger, to a secretarial service, to a basket business, and her latest “Diane’s Doll Annex” a doll shop that holds tea parties. Some businesses have prospered and some have just gotten by, but she still ventured out and tried them. I think that’s what inspires me the most — her passion to go out and try something new no matter what it takes.
Currently my mom works as an administrative assistant to some of the big wigs in her hometown hospital. Something my mother said recently was that she has spent the last 30 years of her life doing what she felt she needed to do. She retires in two years, at which point this will change to doing what she wants to do with her life. She then reminded me I have the rest of my life to do just that. “Thirty years is a long time to not enjoy what you are doing. Learn from what I have learned, life is too short not to live it for you,” she said. My mother motivates me to be and do all I can to the best of my ability, to never be afraid to try new things, and has always been there whenever I fall down to help pick me back up.
