Stepdaughter asks to be officially adopted
Ben Jamieson got his Father's Day gift early this year.
It arrived on New Year's Day, the day his stepdaughter, Erica Zanicky, 23, asked Jamieson to adopt her.
Tuesday's adoption ceremony in a Butler County courtroom was the culmination of a process that began when Jamieson met Erica's mother, Michelle.
Erica said Jamieson and her mother, Michelle, started dating in 1999 when Erica was 5 and her brother, Martin was 3.
They were married in 2001.
“He has been my stepdad going on 16 years,” she said.
She's taken this action in appreciation, Erica said.
“It's mostly just that my stepdad has stepped in for my father. He helped me pay for school and got me to where I am now. I see him more as a dad,” said Erica about her decision.
She said, “I asked to be adopted, and I made him an extra Christmas card. It was a card that said 'It's a girl.'
“And there was a pint glass that I had made that said 'World's Best Dad' and there was a picture frame that said 'You have always been my dad, can I be your official daughter?'”
“He was kind of thrown off by the card, but then he realized what was happening,” Erica said.
Jamieson, of Meridian, who is the senior vice president, communities district manager, for the 12 Northwest Bank branches in Western Pennsylvania, said, “She was very passionate about it, and it was her idea.
Erica, an Evans City resident, said, “I guess the biggest reason I am doing this is it’s just something I feel he deserves.”
A full story appears in Sunday's Butler Eagle.
