Location:Tequesta, FL
Age: 55
Marital Status: Married
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Education, St. Mary of the Woods College
Do you work?
I was a Regional Business Manager for Digital Equipment Corporation in Boston, MA. My territories included the Northeast Region, Canada and the International Area.
In 1988, I woke up one morning and I couldn’t see. Long story short, I had an eye disorder related to multiple sclerosis. I was 38 and I had to go on disability. I’ve had more than my fair share of eye surgeries. My vision is stable.
Was it hard for you to stop working?
It’s funny, although I loved my job when I was working, I used to say, ‘God, what can I do? I don’t want to be away from my kids.” I feel like, in an odd way, my prayers were answered. I got to stay home and raise my kids.
And are you married?
I lost my husband to cancer in 2000, he was 44. I remarried in 2007.
How did you meet your current husband?
I met Skip on Match.com. We dated for a little over two years and then married.
Is he your age?
He is 58 and he is a great guy. He’s a pioneer in the citrus industry. Right now he is teaching my son, Alex the business.
Tell me about your children.
My daughter Vanessa and son Alex are masterpieces. I’ve watched them grow and develop into two of the most phenomenal, loving, kind and generous people I will ever have the privilege to know.
Tell me why you love House of Lavande.
Every piece of jewelry has a history. The pieces are classic but carry an emotional reference to eras of days gone by. And I know that no one else will be wearing what I’m wearing.
Do you have a favorite jewelry designer?
I love Miriam Haskell. Her designs of the past and present are beautiful and exquisite.
Tell me about your style.
Tailored casual. I’m pressed and chic but never uncomfortable or overpowering.
What’s your biggest indulgence?
My shoes and my purses are definitely at the top of this list, followed by jewelry. Sometimes it is just the color of the pieces, or the style, or the way wearing them makes me feel.
Do you have a favorite beach spot in Florida?
A little spot off of Juno Beach on Celestial Way. Alex and I love to go surf casting there. I love to walk this beach as, magically, when I’m there everything just melts away, except the roar of the ocean.
What’s your favorite Florida restaurant?
The Palm Beach Grill. On any given night, no matter what you order, you’re never disappointed.
What about a favorite book?
A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle. It’s about how to live life to the fullest and how to pay attention to everything around you. For example, Tolle would say, next time you wash your hands, pay attention to the way the soap and water feel on your skin. Don’t just wash your hands. It’s a life-changing book.
Who influenced you?
When I turned 50 and realized that I was changing physically, I’d think about Lauren Hutton and Meryl Streep. They are casual, yet elegant, always with a smile on their faces. They wear life so well.
Do you have a signature fragrance?
Lolita Lempika. It’s flowery, flirty and feminine.
How about skin care favorites?
I love Serious Skin Care’s Firma Face XR. It’s an unbelievable product! It will take a minimum of ten years off your face. You put in on in the morning like a facial mask, wait three minutes and then splash your face with water to remove it. All of the lines and wrinkles disappear like magic.
Do you have a signature item?
My Louis Vuitton bags. The style that I most love is the Alma. The bags can go from day to night and it doesn’t matter if I am wearing jeans or a dress.
What do you do to rejuvenate?
A long bubble bath with a glass of Chilean wine. Sailing, walking on the beach, visiting with old friends and a cup of Kilwin’s ice cream, while people watching on the fishing pier.
Where do you love to travel and why?
I love to travel through Italy. Once I was in Brindisi, and I saw this group of older men putting netting under all these olive trees; harvesting olives. I went and sat on this stone wall. I must have been there for hours watching them. It was a most spiritual experience.
You see, my grandfather was from Abruzzi. He taught me about so many things in life. He was a worldly man. When I was sitting on that wall it was like I was with my grandfather, learning again.
Who or what inspires you?
My prayer life and relationship with God inspire me. Sitting in the quiet of the day, by myself, I am amazed at the clarity and inspiration that I receive in response to my thoughts and prayers. It is a most rejuvenating and yet so humbling of an experience.