Location: El Paso, TX
Age:67
Marital Status: Married
Education: BBA in Economics at Baylor University
Today she’s still married to that high school sweetheart and works as an accountant at his cardiovascular practice in El Paso. She’s also the Chairman of the Board of the El Paso Community Foundation, but her delightfully deviant streak remains: “I wore these green jeans and a green t-shirt to the grocery store in Seattle, and my daughter was so embarrassed. She said, ‘Everyone’s gonna look at you.’ I said, ‘I don’t care, I’m from Texas.’”
You were married and pregnant while attending a Baptist college, how did your parents feel about this?
They were very nervous. I was 17 when I got engaged. My dad said, “You have to promise me you’ll get your education. Joe wants to be a doctor and he’ll be around educated people his whole life so you have to have your education too.” That was probably the best advice I’ve ever had because throughout our lives people have been surprised that I graduated from college, getting married so young.
Have you always worked as an accountant for your husband’s business?
No I didn’t. When we were in college we lived on $300 a month. Can you believe it? But if we needed tires for the car or something our parents would help us.
How do you define your style?
I’m fairly casual, but I love beautiful, well-made clothes. I hope I’m tasteful; I probably border on not sometimes.
In what way?
I like fashion forward things and might be a little daring for someone any age.
Give me an example. What do you wear that is daring?
Leggings and thigh high boots. I love high heels but it’s getting easier for me to wear then now that Manolo makes them with three-inch heels instead of four-inch. I wear low-cut things and bright colors or metal studs.
You really are not at all conventional.
I am when I have to be. I’m chairman elect at the El Paso Community Foundation. Those meetings are more formal and I wear my nice Armani.
Is the El Paso Community Foundation your passion project?
Yes. People donate money to the foundation and we manage the money and distribute it. We can’t do religious or political. But if someone wants their money to go to education or animal shelters or to the symphony, we make sure it goes where they want. We’ve really impacted the community and I’m very proud of the work I do with them.
Who are some of your favorite designers?
My favorite-favorite is Armani. I love Escada. And for travel in the winter I like St. John. It’s a little too hot for it in the summer here.
Where do you like to shop?
Tres Mariposas. It’s the nicest boutique in El Paso. They’re fashion forward and their service is wonderful. It’s like a little Neimans, where they take personal care of their customers and have such nice stuff. Monica, their leading salesperson and I practically grew up together. I mean they started in a little, tiny strip mall when I came here 30 years ago and I think Monica was about 20 and I was 33.
Who influenced your style most?
My mother, who was very conservative, cool and elegant. She always dressed so nicely and appreciated clothes. Her style was different from mine, but I she taught me to appreciate wearing the right thing. And her mother was a seamstress and a model. My mother lived till she was 98, here in El Paso. Everyday I went to see her, she would say something about my purse or, “Oh I don’t like those shoes,” until the day she died.
Would you listen to her if she told you she didn’t like something?
I might listen, but I would still wear what I wanted.
Do you have a signature accessory?
My Lady-Datejust Rolex watch with a white gold band. I have had it for about 30 years. It has never skipped a beat. It looks good with everything. It is a perfect machine. I never take it off.
What would you say is your favorite restaurant in El Paso?
Cafe Central. It reminds me of New York. The food is so good, and it’s classy and sophisticated. They have a lot of fish, which is really hard to find in El Paso, and it’s always fresh.
What about for Mexican food? (It doesn’t have to be fancy!)
Oh no, there are no fancy ones. We love The Riviera. It’s a real old establishment and the food is just good Mexican.
Do you have a signature perfume?
I have two. I love Chanel No. 5 in the summer and Les Baiser Du Dragon by Cartier in the winter.
Tell me your cleansing routine.
Revive Skin Care. I love it. My daughter is a dermatologist so she’s big on exfoliation and the glycolic acids. I use their moisturizer and night cream too.
Where do you have your hair styled and cut?
A place called Ana’s in El Paso. My hairdresser is Lorenzo. It’s very upscale. And, again, you get good service and the product is good.
Do you have a favorite spa?
I love to go to the Golden Door in California. The food is all organically grown and wonderful and they’re always up on the latest exercises. They pamper you and treat you nice and also work you hard.
Your favorite wine?
California cabernets. And I love Silver Oak.
What’s a great book you’ve read recently?
I am absolutely loving, Hunger’s Brides. It’s about a woman in Mexico in the 17th century. She wanted women to get schooling. She was so ahead of her time. It’s a mystery and love story, like Gone With The Wind only it’s much better and more intricate. I love historical fiction.
Most of your family members are doctors. You must just go around the whole family when you need your treatments.
That’s right. I’m so spoiled. My son is a pediatric surgeon married to an OBGYN and then my daughter is a dermatologist married to an orthopedic surgeon.
And what about you? Are you the anomaly of the family?
I always say I’m the only one in the family that’s any fun.