PITTSBURGH, PA, June 14, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Natalie L. M. Petesch, PhD, is a distinguished biographee of Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are chosen from among a pool of the most prominent professionals and are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Born in Detroit to Samuel Levin and Anna Goldman Levin, both Russian immigrants who had never learned to read, Dr. Petesch decided that she wanted to be a writer by the age of 9 years. She was inspired by her parents, particularly her mother, to create stories of men and women who strive heroically to overcome ignorance and poverty. Attributing much of her success to her passion, Dr. Petesch published her first works, "After the First Death, There is No Other" and "The Odyssey of Katinou Kalokovich," in 1974.
Cultivating her writing skills by obtaining a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from Boston University in 1955 and a Master of Arts from Brandeis University in 1956, Dr. Petesch concluded her studies at the University of Texas, from which she earned a Doctor of Philosophy in 1962. During this time, she married her husband, Donald Anthony Petesch, in 1959. Dr. Petesch cites her husband as her great mentor, noting that he was always impressed by her books and how she incorporated all of the details of what she witnessed in the world.
Having authored countless short stories, novellas and novels over the years, Dr. Petesch's most recent works include the short story 'Selma' in "Stories of the Civil Rights Movement: An Anthology" in 2006, and "The Confessions of Señora Francesca Navarro and Other Stories" in 2005. Publishing "The Immigrant Train and Other Stories" in 1996, her story 'Ramon el Conejo' appeared in the short fiction anthology "North of the Rio Grande: The Mexican-American Experience in Short Fiction" in 1992. In 1991, she released an artist statement with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and in 1990, she wrote "The Laughter of Hastings Street: An Autobiographical Memoir" as part of the "Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series." That same year, Dr. Petesch also published the short story collection "Justina of Andalusia and Other Stories."
Dr. Petesch's additional written works include "Flowering Mimosa" in 1987, "Wild With All Regret" in 1986 and "Duncan's Colony" in 1982. Authoring "Soul Clap its Hands and Sing" in 1981, a collection of 16 short stories, she published "The Leprosarium" and "The Long Hot Summers of Yasha K." in 1979. Likewise, Dr. Petesch's short story "Main Street Morning," which had been originally featured in the literary magazine New Letters in 1977, was collected in "The Best American Short Stories: 1978."
Dr. Petesch's husband notably helped her to find teaching positions that provided her with financial support while she worked on her books and stories. She was briefly active as an educator with the University of Texas at Austin as well as with Southwest Texas State University and San Francisco State University. She found further success with the University of Idaho and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. A well-regarded author, she was frequently invited to speak and give presentation as well. Alongside her primary endeavors, Dr. Petesch is affiliated with a number of liberal and progressive organizations for social, political and environmental issues.
Lauded frequently for her writing throughout her career, Dr. Petesch was presented with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Award for Outstanding Established Artist in 1991 and the Harvey Curtis Webster Award for Best Story in 1989. Featured in the Motheroot Journal article "Life Piled on Life" in 1979, she additionally accepted the Swallow's Tale Award in 1985 and the Louisville Review Fiction Prize and the New Letters Summer Prize Book Award in 1978. In 1974, she was honored with the Kanwaw Quarterly Fiction Award and the Iowa School of Letters Award for Short Fiction from the University of Iowa. In light of her impressive accomplishments, Dr. Petesch has been presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, which is the highest honor conferred by Marquis Who's Who.
Having lived a long, full life, Dr. Petesch is the proud mother of two children, Rachel Pearl Maines and Nicholas Petesch. Furthermore, she is the grandmother to one wonderful grandchild, Gabriel. She enjoyed walking, reading and music in her spare time. Dr. Petesch and her husband traveled considerably, visiting France and Italy in addition to living in Spain and Mexico.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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