Mother of two kids – one drop-dead-gorgeous-mature-sophisticated daughter and one whacko-hiker-kid who solo hiked the Appalachian Trail during his junior year in high school and who solo hiked from Mexico to Canada in 67 days. The family believes he's just trying to get away from us. (see The Gang for more).
Two open-heart surgeries (at age 25 and 47) to correct congenital heart defects. Join her in the bathroom (great acoustics!) and you can hear her artificial heart valves click!
Widowed at the age of 42, leaving her with two young children to raise.
Author: Take Heart! a laugh-out-loud collection of essays which look at life through menopausal eyes.
Author of inspirational stories in Teatime Stories for Women, Stories of God’s Abundance, Teens Can Bounce Back, and Chicken Soup for the Soul as well as numerous articles. Contributor to Improving Systems of Care, A Patient's Perspective.
2006 WomenHeart Mayo Symposium graduate. WomenHeart advocate.
Served as Co-chair, American Heart Association, Rhode Island Chapter's Women and Heart Disease Committee.
Served on National Board of Directors, Adult Congenital Heart Association
2003 American Heart Association Heart of the Year Award recipient.
Member AATH, Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
Human Resource Manager at a major medical center. Recruited, hired, and counseled staff. Designed and taught management and community service programs related to employment, career development and personal growth.
Certified Personality Trainer, CLASServices.
Graduate Upsala College. (You’ll have to trust her on this one – Upsala went bankrupt in 1995 leaving Rudy with no alma mater.)
6th Grade - a banner year - Citizenship Award recipient, Writing Contest winner, correctly guessed the number of Cheerios in the jar at the annual PTA Fun Fair.
