I find it so hard to believe that it has almost been 50 years since we graduated from LHS, and that we all now qualify for Medicare! For myself having two children still under the age of 25 has helped me to still feel “young’ish” and has kept me on my toes. I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s stories and journeys and will do my best to share mine!

After graduation, my mom took me to Europe for my graduation gift. We had a wonderful time, but unfortunately, immediately after returning, and before I left to study at Syracuse University, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This made the transition into college difficult for me, and I spent the next few years going back and forth between Syracuse and being at home. I then took some time off from school, learned to bartend, and eventually graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s in Marketing in 1983.

Next came several years of unfulfilling work, but I loved living in New York City, for the next 18 years. In 1988, I decided to take a nutrition class at Hunter College, which fascinated me. I re-did most of my undergraduate degree at Hunter and moved on to NYU for graduate school for my Master’s in Nutritional Science, which I obtained in 1992. Part of the program involved an internship, which I did at Beth Israel Hospital, which was one of the two designated HIV/AIDS hospitals in New York City. I felt a calling, and after graduating, was hired at Gouverneur Hospital with minimal experience to help open their HIV/AIDS clinic. From there, I worked at Bellevue Hospital’s inpatient AIDS program, and then afterwards worked at the Village Center for Care, a homecare agency that provided for people living with HIV/AIDS. I traveled all over the city with a scale and Ensures in my bag. My work was heartbreaking on a daily basis, but I felt rewarded and gifted to have met the people that I did along the way and felt welcomed into their homes.

Over the years, prior to building my practice and being part of New York, I have worn many hats! While studying at Hunter College and NYU, I worked as a bartender at the Academy Theater in Times Square during concerts, and at Tennessee Mountain in SoHo, where I met three of my closest friends.

I eventually transitioned into private practice, where my first patient with an eating disorder came into my office. This interaction put me on a path to train and undergo additional education and supervision for eating disorders, which became my specialty. I have had my practice for over 20 years and continue to enjoy and be challenged by my work today. I split my time between NYC and an office nearby as well as post-covid zoom sessions!

In 1995, on a plane from Newark to Naples, Florida, I sat next to a stranger. That’s not an unusual situation – we’ve all done it. That stranger and I started talking and to make a long story short, Scott and I got married in 1998 at Windows on The World at the World Trades Center. Although we lived 20 blocks away from one another I wonder if our paths would have ever crossed if we were not seated together on that flight! Scott played in the band The Jickets in what we call his CBGB days under the alias of Petee-Filips. CBGB was a well known club in NYC. But by the time we met, he was past his music playing days and worked as a day trader. He no longer day trades but has continued to play music in our basement and at the local inn.

Wanting to start a family right away, I had my first child, my son, Lewis, in 2000. Knowing we wanted a second child, we decided to move to Glen Rock, New Jersey, a suburban town with two trains to New York City, and my father living nearby. Scott grew up in Brooklyn in an apartment building and the idea of owning a home in the suburbs appealed to him. I had thought the city would be my forever home but we made the decision to give it a try. Some of the home ownership novelties have worn off and we are now trying to decide where to live next!

My daughter, Tess, was born in 2003, and our family was complete.

My son Lewis is now 24 and graduated from New York University in 2024 and lives and works in New York City. He is the office and project manager of a plastic surgeon’s office. We call him “Dr. Lew” because of his vast knowledge of aesthetics and his astute eye. In high school he was voted most likely to have his own reality television show, a category created just for him. I don’t think he would turn it down!

Tess graduated from Northeastern University in May and will be staying in Boston and attending Boston University for her Master’s in Social Work this September. She taught herself to read when she was three years old and had her first unpaid job of reading to her nursery school class everyday. On paper, their career paths may make them seem different (and in many ways they are), but my children are similar in their values, goodness, humor, kindness and so much more!

Shortly before having my son, I started practicing yoga, which has been an incredibly important part of my life. It is my place to come home to myself and my community. I also enjoy traveling, movies, laughing with my family and friends, and playing tennis, which I started at 50. I also do some moderate hiking and love taking long walks in the park with my friends or listening to podcasts.

I’m still good friends with Robyn and Staci from LHS and have Robyn to thank for asking Michael for me to be spotlighted! Thank you to Michael for doing this for us and keeping us all connected. I hope to see many of you at our reunion in 2027. Wishing everyone much love and good health!