PFC Veronica Sebastian Potter
1925 – 2024
USMC
WWII
Veronica Dorothy Sobiesczozyk was born on December 2, 1925 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the late Stanley and Mary Kraska Sebastian (surname anglicized before 1940), the tenth of 12 children.
At age 17, Veronica Sebastian became one of the nearly 19,000 women who volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve -- forging her baptism and parental permission to enlist. Her service commenced in January, 1945. After basic training at Camp LeJeune, she served in a clerical capacity at Parris Island, then at the Pentagon. While at Parris Island, she also planned entertainment events and performed in shows for the local troops to boost morale.
Upon her honorable discharge, PFC Sebastian married John A. Zane in Pittsburgh on January 12, 1946; they had two children together.
She became a professional ballroom dancer and dance teacher in Pittsburgh while studying art at Carnegie Mellon. She also performed flamenco and lectured on flamenco history and technique.
Veronica Zane married Robert E. Potter on November 1, 1964 in Maine; they had three children.
Mrs. Potter began painting in her childhood and became a prolific artist in later life. She shared her talent by teaching art classes at Harper College after moving to the Barrington area in the early 1980’s. She continued to create vibrant, original artwork in watercolor, collage, woodcut and icon painting into her 90’s.
PFC Veronica Sebastian Potter passed away peacefully on March 16, 2024, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington.
[Aside: you may see her Veteran’s interview at https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.103848/]
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Remember. Honor. Teach.
Courtesy of Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.