In Fall of 1966 I attended nursing school until January 1967. Dropped out of nursing, continued at UB, and met my first husband (note I’m numbering them!!). Jeff was in law school and convinced me to marry him! I was 19, he was 23. I dropped out of UB and eloped in April 1968. (Can you guess how thrilled Ruth was with that move???!!!) I worked, he finished school and passed the NYS Bar in 1971.

We moved to Indianapolis in January 1972 and in July my son Robert was born. Jeff passed the Indiana Bar and in 1974 we moved to Evansville, IN. In March1975 Joel was born. Life was good with the kid, friends, and lots of tennis, but something was amiss between Jeff and me.

Alas, divorce number one. I moved back to WNY, attended beauty school, and settled in Lockport. Two years later, I married husband number two (big mistake!!!). Didn’t last long -- 3 years. The boys went to live with Dad in Evansville and I returned to UB to finish my degree -- working full-time, attending classes full-time. I lost a lot of weight on that divorce diet. You know the one--lots of Scotch with ice cubes??!!

Jeff died very suddenly in 1989 when Rob was 17 and Joel was 14. Joel came to live with my Mom and Dad, while Rob finished his last HS year, then went to Univ. of Kentucky. Joel attended Roy-Hart with Chris Guild and they’re still friends! Joel graduated from UK and enlisted in the Army. He’s now a 2nd Lt. stationed with the 10th Mountain Division at Ft. Drum in Watertown, NY. Rob and his family live in Louisville, KY, where he is a project manager with an environmental clean-up agency. Joel deploys to Iraq this summer for a one year tour.

I graduated from UB in 1989 and began my career in Senior Housing Administration: adult homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, etc. In 1992, I moved to Binghamton, consulted for a Syracuse company, then moved back to WNY and opened an enriched housing complex in Kenmore. I was involved in an unfair labor/discrimination suit in which I prevailed and subsequently left the for-profit world of senior housing!!

Tom (my present and last husband) was very much a part of my life by then and we married in 1996. We celebrate our 10th anniversary this year. So far, he wins the longevity award for husbands--good job Tom!! I worked for Assemblyman Dave Seaman until 1998 when I became Director of Development for the YWCA of Niagara. I plan on working until I’m 80 or so!! I love what I do and am currently VP of lots of stuff, but still pick up papers outside the building if that’s what needs to be done.

I’ve been blessed with not only 2 sons, but two beautiful daughters (in-law) and a darling baby girl who is my first grandchild! Gracy Anne is 8 months old. Life is good! Tom and I enjoy spending time with all of our children (he has 3, all of whom are married with children)--7 grandchildren total in the McDonough group.

I am a member of the Lockport Board of Education and a member of the National YWCA Board of Directors. I am active with St. John’s Church as well. I read constantly, do a lot of walking, knit, sew, love to cook, and someday will write a book!

So, for those of you who haven’t fallen asleep, that’s it for me. Can’t wait to see you in July!