memjdillon

I left Honolulu just after graduation when the family relocated to McLean, VA & went to George Washington Univ. Began my "career" as a part-timer with Travelers Ins. Co. while still a student at GW. Travelers transferred me to the Home Office in Hartford, CT in 1970. I started as a clerk processing Auto & Homeowners policies while I was still a student at GW. With the transfer to Hartford, I traveled the country helping Field Offices with service problems. Eventually, I was a Jr. Officer in the Corporation with responsibilities for service operations, billing procedures, and consumer affairs (complaint handling) for Personal and Commercial Lines field office activities.

In 1978 I married Leo Fitzpatrick. He was doing full-time military duty and then converted to "reserves". He started his own business (CT School Pictures) now doing school-day pictures for about 55 schools. We are in the early stages of "selling the business" as Leo wants to retire in the next couple of years. It is a couple year process in this type of business as it is a "relationship type of business" and the competition is strong.

We were never blessed with children but spend a good deal of time with many "God children" and nieces & nephews.

'94 found Travelers Ins. entertaining "merger mania" - - resulting in much "downsizing". I was given an "early retirement package" (age 50 & 32 years), including that "treasure" of medical coverage. The pension was "significantly" reduced, but part-time substitute teaching (grades 1-8) keeps me busy. I love working with the kids and I use what I went to college for! I also do all the office & paper work for Leo's business (that is a major activity). I avoid either side of a camera!!

By now I should be calling CT home, but still have a tendency to call VA home - - Mother, my brothers & sister and their families live there.

We travel to Ireland to visit Leo's relatives (discovered his cousins in 1991). We included England & Scotland on one of our trips so that Leo could see "St. Andrews Golf Course". I am convinced that his middle name is "golf"!!! We travel to VA to visit my family a couple of times each year. I go to Florida each spring to help a friend "close up" her rental property - a rest that I really enjoy. I would like to retire to FLA, but Leo does not like the heat.

I have really enjoyed the enhanced the ability to "keep in touch" with Radford classmates thru email. My Radford years remain great memories - - those were really great years in my life and I cherish those memories.