Hi everyone!! Thank you so much Michael for all you do to keep us connected after so many years!

I’m so grateful for Facebook, which brought us so many of us back together. I’ve made new friendships, too, with people I never even knew in high school!

As some may already know, I moved to Munich, Germany for my junior year and for half of my senior year. I attended Munich International School where I studied with many international students who I am still also friends with today.  When I left LHS I was so scared and very shy, but I quickly made great friends, both in my German neighborhood and at school. It really opened my world up!!  I quickly learned to speak Bavarian from hanging out with the German kids in my neighborhood.  I’d say, living abroad was a highlight of my life. I traveled all over Europe with friends and family. My sister came over to visit me and married a good friend of mine named Rudi and is still there almost 50 years later!  My German family has expanded so much since!!

Upon returning to LHS, (too late to get in the yearbook), my bestie since kindergarten, Karen Scapicchio, was anxiously awaiting my return!  We’re still close friends and are now sharing photos and videos of our grandchildren!

After high school, I attended Kean University and graduated in 1982 with my BS in Management Science with a focus on Marketing, especially Advertising.  I realized that I was more interested in creative writing, and art, and not a business type at all! I absolutely hated the math!!   This led me to work as an advertising assistant, and then as a copywriter for a company that sold mailing lists for many upscale clothing catalogs. It was such a fun career!! 

At the time I was dating my first husband, Steve (class of 1974).   Since at that time, I lived in Bergen County, I traveled back-and-forth to Livingston every weekend.   We got married, moved to Belmar and then to Brick where we had many great years. We had two wonderful daughters, Alyssa and Melanie.  I truly enjoyed my Girl Scout leader days and being a soccer mom!  We frequented Great Adventure almost weekly and mastered each and every rollercoaster!  The wilder the better!!  My girls became as brave and daring as their mom!

My girls are my life and so are my three awesome grandchildren, Jackson, age 6, Cooper almost 4, and Madeline 7 months, who lives in Estero, Florida.

Unfortunately, after 17 years, Steve and I decided to divorce. It was a really hard time, but we had to move on.

After many years of marriage, I realized how much I loved to sing so I tried karaoke one night and immediately became hooked!! That’s how I met and fell in love with my soulmate, Jerry, a fellow singer and a special education math teacher.  After a few years we purchased a home together to raise our combined family and then married. I got my wonderful stepson Keith out of this union! I was never so fulfilled!

This is where I became a “master of trades”!!  Unable to find advertising work in Central Jersey, I took a job as a mortgage processor, then as an ophthalmic technician, a career job that I so enjoyed.  After 18 years, the wonderful doctor I had worked for retired.  I was so unsure of what I would do next!!  I ran into a friend who asked me if I wanted to be a driving instructor for his driving school. It was a fun job working with 16-year-olds, a little scary at times but also rewarding. Unfortunately, it became so hard on my back and caused me to need back surgery.  I did this job for nine years. I eventually went back to that job for a few more years until one day a police officer ran a red light and I was T-boned along with my 16-year-old student!!

These days, following two neck fusions, total knee replacement and two shoulder surgeries. I’m considered disabled and still have some chronic pain. I still have fun though with my adventurous husband, who’s newly retired, and with my adorable grandchildren!   Sadly, no more rollercoaster rides for me!! I really loved them!!

Jerry and I have done quite a bit of traveling to Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Caribbean, and also a few states in this country!  Who knows where we’ll venture to next!

Hoping everyone remains happy and healthy. We have so many years left to enjoy.

Thank you again, Michael!!