St Paul Catholic School
SPHS Class of 1959
Classmates
Ann Davis (Mastrodonato)
Comments
In the fall of 1959, I began college studies at Siena Heights in Adrian, Michigan. I completed my B.S. in January of 1963 and returned home. There I began teaching at St. Paul School, replacing an ailing 5th grade teacher. In September of that year, I moved to Chicago where I began my year of dietetic internship at Hines VA Hospital. The Internship included tours of duty at Cook County Hospital and Downey Hospital.

That October, I married my fiancé, Wayne Davis from Okemos. The following spring I became pregnant with our son Jeff. In September of 1964, we returned to Lansing where I worked as a dietitian at Sparrow Hospital. Eventually I became chief dietitian.

In 1977, my husband accepted a job as chief news videographer in Rhinelander, WI. I went to work as chief dietitian at the only hospital in this small community. Two years later, we returned to Lansing.

By the time our son was nine, I knew teaching was where I really wanted to be. I attended Michigan State University and completed coursework for a teaching certificate. In 1973, I completed student teaching in Eaton Rapids and was immediately hired to replace a 1st grade teacher following Thanksgiving break. Always restless, I moved from first to fifth grade after 2 years.

In 1977, my husband accepted a position with a TV station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I was able to secure a position in a first grade class at Grant Wood School. After one year, staff was cut and I moved to third grade at Johnson Elementary. In 1979, Wayne was asked to come to Ames, Iowa as chief videographer working for the TV station at Iowa State University. I followed and found a job teaching kindergarten. Then I accepted a position at St. Cecelia School for the Gifted. I was part of the lower elementary unit. While there, I completed my Masters at Drake University in Des Moines.

In 1983, our daughter was born and my husband became very ill due to extremely cold winters. That is when we moved to Houston. I worked for Houston schools, teaching 5th and 6th grade “SIGHTS” classes for gifted. After 3 years, I moved closer to our home and taught in the suburb where we lived. I stayed in the Alief system until I retired. Ever learning, I covered teaching at all the elementary levels and moved to the middle school level when our daughter graduated. I became Science Specialist and Master Teacher. I stayed until retirement.

In 2004, we bought our “yacht” after having a 19’ Larson for many years. Our new acquisition, “Blue Moon” was 40’ long and slept six. It was a cruiser with twin engines. With a complete head and galley, we were able to move aboard, leaving our empty house for sale. We had interesting experiences aboard. Living on the coast made it easy to cruise the gulf from Texas to Florida and down to Mexico. We met many interesting “live-aboards”.

We had plans to do more traveling until hurricane Rita; insurance agencies made it impossible to insure the boat so we sold it and began more on-land travel. We also cruised with Norwegian Cruise Lines in the Gulf and the Atlantic. In 2007, we sold our big, empty house and moved to a very nice apartment. Now we spend our days traveling, golfing, swimming and enjoying life.

By the way, our son Jeff is now 42 years old and married to Florinda. They have given us two grandchildren, Jeff Jr. 11 and Ian Gabriel 3 years old. Our daughter is 24 and graduating from college this December.