My husband Gary and I have been homeowners in Pelican Pointe since 2007  I am from northeast OH -IO.  I taught home economics in a junior high school for 9 years.  Then I took a job in the marketing department of Ohio Bell where I met Gary. I worked in various sales and sales support roles for 18 years.  My husband and I were fortunate enough to retire early and spent 8 winters in Myrtle Beach before deciding we needed warmer weather and heading to Southwest Florida.

I am stepmom to Gary’s three sons.  We have 4 wonderful grandchildren. The boys and their families are all still in the same area of Ohio so we are able to spend time with them when we head north. 

I was invited by a neighbor to join PPWA almost immediately.  I have always been impressed with the variety of activities available to the women who live here.  It was a great way for me to get involved and meet people since I am not a golfer.

I worked on the newsletter with Sue Kerndt when we were still printing and mailing it.  And I was involved as we transitioned to digital.  I also worked with Sue to create the original website.  During that time, I was on the board of PPWA.  I also ran Grandma’s Attic and was co-leader of the Theater Group for several years.  I was on the Wine Tasting committee and treasurer of Garden Club as well.  I have met many wonderful women and enjoyed working with them in my different roles in PPWA. 

While I was never a librarian, I do like to organize and bring order to things.  The library volunteers keep the library in order so all Pelican Pointe residents can enjoy it.  Jeanne Fleet and I sort the newly donated books and decide if they are added to the library or get donated.  I also manage the online registration for the volunteers.  I’ve heard from many residents how much they appreciate the library and the work the volunteers do. 

Hello. I’m humbled to be recognized as it’s quite a labor of love in the library. 

I am the “off season” co-chair as I live here full time. The work of volunteers involves shelving donated books within different categories and maintaining the orderliness of the books. As co chair I will assist volunteers and determine whether new donated books can be kept for our library. With the limited space there is occasionally some books that may be too old or are duplicates and we will donate these books to Goodwill. 

I moved with my husband to PP in 2014 to escape the Syracuse NY winters. We were snowbirds for 10 years prior to moving to our home in PP. I worked for 35 years in various civil

service positions. Primarily I would assist people with subsidized housing to become more self sufficient. 

I am honored to be spotlighted in the newsletter this month.  I was born and raised on Long Island, NY.  In 1963 my parents bought a home in Sayville, NY.  I graduated from Sayville HS in 1977 and attended SUNY Plattsburgh graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. (Side note I worked at the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980!) I persevered through seven years of subbing to finally get a full time teaching job in Sayville where I taught for 31 years before retiring in 2014. 

I was blessed to have met my husband John on a blind date in 1994 and we married in 1997 on a beach in Bermuda! In January of 2000 we welcomed our daughter, Em, into the world.  

When Em left for college in 2018, John and I began to travel.  In 2020 we discovered Venice and Pelican Pointe and we bought our villa as COVID began to change our world.  We spend 5 month here and then return to Medford, LI.  

I love being a part of PPWA and I am actively involved in many groups.  I am the co-leader for adult coloring, program planner for Garden Club, and leader for Genealogy.  I also have volunteered for the Audubon Society, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Relay for Life.  I am the team captain for the ACS Relay Walk in Venice.

John and I love our old vehicles.  I have a 1933 Ford Pickup here that John build for me.  

 We are blessed to be a part of this incredible community and have made so many friends.  If I haven’t met you yet, I hope to.  My desire is to spread happiness and make our world a better place. 

I moved from Saratoga County NY to Pelican Pointe before PPWA.  I have a B.S. from Southern  Connecticut State and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Russell Sage College and taught/stayed home with 4children then worked 16 years as a Registered Nurse. Frank and I have 18 grandchildren from our 2 sons and 2 daughters. I play golf with the PP Niners and do water aerobics. I have been in many PP activities over the years. I am in a book club and recipe swap ,theater etc. Frank and I are in  the couples book club. We love travel and cruises. It has been wonderful enjoying all the PPWA activities. I started adult coloring because I have always enjoyed it. Now Janet Cozza is leading it and I am assisting her with this relaxing activity that includes people and conversations. Members are so creative.