Attended Vassar College post TZHS. I was asked to take a leave of absence after freshman year due to
majoring in dancing and mixed drinking in the on-campus bar. Thus, in 4.5 years, I graduated with
focuses in 3 majors/minors: Biopsychology, Neurophysiology and Geology. Apparently, flying through
the TZ curriculum left me with zero study skills (however, the experimental modular system did enable
me to enjoy many a mid-school day free concert in NYC Central Park).
Post graduation, immediately moved to Denver, CO and started working for Valero Energy, followed by
Amerada Hess regrettably supporting the craft of raping the earth for precious “black gold, Texas tea”.
Concurrently, I worked for Denver’s inaugural Sushi Restaurant, a whole other storyline akin to a
Japanese “Cheers”.
After the oil crash in mid-80’s I obtained a Financial Series 7 license after cramming for 2 weeks for the 6-hour exam. Not knowing anything about the biz, I immediately secured a job with a “penny stock” brokerage firm, owner was nicknamed “Pinky” (this should have been my first clue). It was a brief interlude of smiling & dialing names of “potential clients” selected by throwing darts at random names in the white pages (kidding … almost), and where the compliance person solved problems by saying, “come here honey, sit on my lap and tell me about it” (not kidding). Just your normal run-of-the-mill first “stockbroker” job experience. When I left for a reputable finance firm after two or so months by successfully building some sort of client “book”, Pinky and I had a lovely parting conversation which included his telling me I had a job there any time I wanted followed by me smiling gratefully and responding, “Pinky, I wouldn’t work for you again if you were the last man on earth.” He laughed and said, “Offer still stands.”
Also during some very short period of time in my long past history I became an unlicensed gun owner due to concurrently becoming an illegal drug dealer, via my then boyfriend, whose source was a long established Italian mob org, while becoming a card shark at Spades, and driving with gal pal up to the Rocky Mountain resorts in the middle of many-a-night crashing on the floors of local band members so
we could hit the ski slopes as soon as they opened.
I eventually got serious and have been working primarily in finance ever since in CO, CA, and NY (34 yrs
total), at Schwab, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, creating and growing new products, teams, business units,
opening branches, winning various awards (yada, yada…) until I left the blessed industry at the end of
last year from my last position as Global Head of Risk and Control for Securities Services at Citigroup.
Now happily retired, dancing and having a blast while waiting for hubby to retire.
P.S. Murdered, correction MARRIED for 33 years to the only man on earth who can put up with me, a
camera operator for an early morning sport show on CBS Sports Network.
My proudest accomplishments: 2 offspring both in CA; daughter is an Aerospace Engineer; and son is a SWE (SoftWare Engineer).
P.P.S. Vassar has long since replaced the campus bar with a coffee shop.