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1. How long have you been in Rotary?
Twenty years!
2. My favorite Rotary moments:
I used to love the "Unwanted Christmas Gift auction" that John Cogan used to do. He would always pick on Malcolm, especially if Malcolm wasn't in attendance! I also enjoy the Annual Golf Tournament.
3. Where I currently live and where I grew up:
I currently line in Downtown Dover.
I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. My father was originally from New Jersey but was working on his PHD in Clinical Psychology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. When I was in 4th grade, we spent a year in England while my dad taught a visiting year at the University of Leeds. It was fascinating to go to an English school and study about Guy Fawkes, Kings and Queens, and learn how to spell words the English way.
The most important thing that happened while we lived in England was that my homeroom teacher happened to be the choir director. She asked me to play piano for a piece that the choir was singing and that started my lifelong career as an accompanist!
After England, my father was offered a job at UNH and we settled in Durham where I stayed through high school graduation and then college. Since then I have lived in Boston, York, Dover, back to Durham, Rochester, and finally back to Dover where we plan to stay!
4. My Hobbies:
I love to read, swim, crochet, walk the dog, go to theater in Boston and NYC with my husband of 34 years, and watch movies.
5. My Business Profession or Current Working or Non-Working Environment:
I am primarily a piano teacher and professional pianist for church, choirs and musical theater.
Now I enjoy going into the church office, putting on some music, lighting a candle and working. It's a nice contrast to teaching and directing. From 1977-1988, I played in two different top 40 rock bands. The 2nd one, Crossfire, took me all over New England and a little to Canada and helped me break out of my classical roots and be "cool", at least for a little while! I met my husband while in the band and he became my road manager for 3 years.
6. Something my fellow Rotarians don’t know about me:
In the summer I live on an island on Lake George that was bought at an auction in 1950 by my grandfather and his 8 siblings. The family had come to America through Ellis Island from Lithuania in the early 20th century. Buying the island was a way to keep the family together in the summers year after year. We were supposed to have a 70th anniversary celebration in July but had to cancel due to Covid. There are 6 cottages and 2 covered bridges with bedrooms on the upper level. Everyone on the island is related either by blood, or marriage!
7. Final words:
There are a lot of good charities in the world that do many good things. Rotary is the one that I choose to give my time, talent and treasure to. I trust the organization to be a good caretaker to my efforts and it makes the choice simple.