Council Rock South Unified Track Team Dedicates Meet To Coach's Sister

HOLLAND, PA — There was a special kind of excitement in the air as unified teams from Council Rock, Central Bucks East and Pennsbury met at the track at Council Rock South for their last meet of the year.

The teams opened the meet by dedicating the event to the memory of Juliet Primola of Yardley, who inspired her sister, Meg Russell, to become a special education teacher and the coach of South’s unified team.

In memory of Juliet, the South team wore special purple shirts emblazoned with Juliet’s name. They also displayed a photo of Juliet, which they held while their team photo was taken.

About 100 athletes and partners took part in the unified meet, an inclusive, varsity-level sports program that teams students with disabilities (athletes) together with students without disabilities (partners) to train and compete.

“Right as I was taking this coaching job, my sister passed away, and she was a Special Olympic athlete too, just like all of you,” Russell told the gathering of athletes and partners. “We’re here to dedicate this meet to her because I would not be here if it weren’t for her.

“What’s so great is that our unified partners who get to work with our athletes experience the same joy that I had around my sister and helped me determine my career as a special education teacher,” she continued. “Just like all of our unified partners, the gift of this sport is that you get to experience that same love and joy that’s always unconditional.”

Team Juliet at Council Rock High School South.

Athletes compete at the meet.

“Juliet would be basking in this,” said Russell. “She would thrive on all of the interaction and be taking it all in. And on our way home, she’d be talking about it nonstop.”

Juliet died in February at the age of 59, leaving behind her beloved family and a legacy of six brothers and sisters who have been inspired by their sister to make a difference in the lives of others.

“Juliet's impact was profound,” reads her obituary. “She taught her siblings patience, empathy, humility, and unconditional love, lessons that have echoed through all aspects of their lives.”

Joining Russell on the Council Rock South track for the special memorial meet were her mother and dad, Anthony and Margaret Primola, her brother and sister, Nick and Alice, who attended the event, and other family members.

“She would be smiling and excited and soaking it all in,” said Juliet’s mother, Marge. “She’d be calmly sitting here and she’d be smiling and very happy.”

“She had one dimension - love. She couldn’t do anything else but give love and draw love from people to her,” said her dad, Tony, who taught her to play the piano and to ride a bike on her own. “She was extremely special.”

Nick said Juliet would be joining in the fun. “She would take this seriously, practicing and having fun being with all of her friends. She was never on the varsity team and never won medals or anything, but she was everyone’s MVP.”

From the beginning, her family said Juliet loved the simple joys of life, always taking her sweet time at her own pace, from swimming laps at the pool to enjoying every last bit of a good meal at the table, to shopping at the mall with her mom and sisters. She had a way of reminding everyone around her to slow down, stay present, and enjoy the moment.

She loved Disney Princesses, especially Snow White, and never missed a chance to dress in a nice outfit, particularly when heading to church. She also loved watching the Ice Capades and competing in Special Olympics.

“I miss everything about her. She made me feel loved,” said Juliet’s sister, Alice Martelli. “She brought out the best. If I had a bad day, she’d bring out the balance of making it perfect.”

Her siblings said Juliet was gentle and shy yet had a playful spark and a rascally giggle that could soften any room. “She was warm, loving, and delightfully particular, especially with her sisters when it came to her nails and her hair,” they said.