First, I want to thank Michael for all his efforts in keeping LHS 77’ a continuation in our lives. I appreciate you!

After graduation, I worked one summer at Hacklebarney State Park in Long Valley, New Jersey with the YCC Program. Youth Conservation Corp. Drove many miles daily from Livingston to make $2.90 hour! One of the best jobs I’ve ever had, maintaining the park. I loved being in the woods for work.

In the fall I went to County College of Morris, aka, Route 10 Tech. I actually went there cause I didn’t get accepted to any other college. Academics really weren’t my thing. Although it was at CCM where I continued my love for softball and played both years there. My second year we went to the NJCAA Softball Nationals in Fenton, Missouri and this is where I have some of the best memories with a team of girls that played with heart and grit. After college I played one year Semi Professional Softball for the Nutley Rebels. Then the league disbanded and pretty much ending my competitive softball career.

After college I worked at Newsweek Magazine in Livingston in their Fulfillment building. First job was stuffing envelopes with premium gifts. Second job was interoffice mail clerk. As there were no emails back then, I pushed a cart around the building delivering interoffice mail and letters to each manager and their departments. Everyone knew me. Third job was in the Control department as a Print Order clerk. Newsweek had 4 printing plants in the country. Livingston printed all the address labels that went onto the magazines. It was a huge machine from the A.B. Dick Company. Only a few of these machines in the world at that time! I would receive a report with the numbers for different demographics on how many magazines to send. I literally had to write, IN PENCIL, the magazine numbers on a huge paper in very small boxes. Then I would FAX this Print Order report to NYC.

At Newsweek I met a few women that played golf. My Dad was an avid golfer and did introduce me to it when I was in my teens and I would just go a few times per year with him. So, I started playing more and more golf with the women. I also played on the Newsweek softball team which was a hoot. My interest in golf started to grow more and more as I was getting pretty good at it. For some reason working at Newsweek, or for a corporation, didn’t appeal to me for my future. It was my passion for sports that fed my soul. So, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at Professional Golf. My Mom and Dad had a winter home in Clearwater, Florida and he was there when I picked up the phone, called my Dad, and said, Dad, I want to get into Professional Golf as a career. What do you think? Now Dad was an entrepreneur his entire life and took risks. He said the magic words that I live by to this day. “Well Camille, you never know unless you try. I know a guy here who runs a golf school, come down this weekend and see what he thinks.” I flew down from Jersey and the guy thinks I have natural talent and can do anything I put my mind to. So I go back to New Jersey, and after a few months I quit Newsweek and move to Florida to try my hand at a golf career. I moved with no job in sight and $400 to my name. My first job was course maintenance at a country club. I learned so much at that job about the course that helped me later on.

To not bore you with ALL the jobs I’ve had for 40 years, let’s fast forward 40 years. I am now a Class A Life Member of the LPGA Professionals Organization. Joined the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals Division in 1986. I originally wanted to play for a living but realized quickly I just didn’t have ‘that’ game. I was good but not Tour quality and I had to make money. I found out quickly when working at a golf practice facility that I had a knack for diagnosing people’s faults and was able to correct them. So, I went the teaching direction and to this day have given over 50,000 lessons to players of all levels. My Dad has passed, but I will forever be grateful to him for those magic words that I live by. You never know unless you try…

In 2020, I had moved from St. Petersburg, Florida to Seattle to teach after getting a divorce from my wife. I had lived there before with my wife from 2005-2013. My sister and brother live 90 miles north of Seattle so I was close to family. And golf was open during Covid! Unfortunately, in September of 2023 I suffered a stroke while visiting Florida. After a few weeks of rehab, I was able to return to Seattle but couldn’t work for about a year. More rehab. Fast forward to the present and I am doing great. I do not have any long-term physical effects besides a little nerve damage in my left hand. But I can play golf! Just not as good 🙁

I love road trips so I have traveled the USA extensively. The only states I have not been to are Michigan, Alaska and Hawaii. I went to Italy in 2022. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I didn’t want to come home. I have wanted to play this certain course in Ireland for as long as I can remember. Well…Next October I am going to Ireland to play it! I am soooooo excited. It’s called Old Head Golf Links. Check it out online. It is beautiful! I’m also seeing Brandi Carlile in concert in Dublin.

A few years ago, I met up with classmates Jami Borst Wolff and Deb Gaier Sprung in Florida and we had a blast. Jami keeps me laughing and was a great friend in my stroke recovery and continues to be a great friend. Thanks, buddy. 🙂 From time to time, I speak with Dana Small who was my best friend back then. I am saddened when we’re informed of a classmate passing. Life is precious. I live in the present. I am very grateful. I take nothing for granted.

Presently, I live part time in St. Petersburg, Florida with my ex-wife Terra (with her in the picture, we are forever best friends!), and part time in Seattle teaching golf in the summers. and resting in St. Pete!

I have not attended any reunions but am really looking forward to 2027! I hope to see you there. Thanks for reading about me.

I am always looking to connect with friends near and far so do not hesitate to reach out to me at Email – cslpga@gmail.com or Text or call – 425-301-7945.