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Class of 1984

Welcome to the Trinity Class of 1984 page! This page will be updated with class notes, memorials, and information about reunion and class gifts when relevant.

Class Co-Chairs

1984 Class Notes

2021

Judi Quinn and Kathleen Elliott-Birdsall

Kathleen Elliott-Birdsall writes in that she’s happy to report she’s been healthy and able to work. Her daughter Julia is a junior at Colgate. Her son Noah is home from his Marine Corps years, taking advantage of the GI Bill. Kathleen has finally found the love of her life and will retire in a few years and hopes to travel. She also was able to visit with Judith “Judi” Quinn in MA. Kathleen has many favorite memories of Trinity. She was fond of playing croquet in the courtyard; the dorm room she shared with Carolyn Dennehy in Cuvilly, where they had the wall upon which everyone left lipstick kisses; class night at Colonel Brooks; Alice in Wonderland; the Irish Times; Sam the Liquor Man who delivered. She feels so grateful for her Trinity experience. She had so much fun, with her friends, in one of the finest cities in the world.

Maureen Flanagan writes that 2020 truly sidelined her in so many ways. Professionally, she began her 15th year with Belgian company UCB Inc. as a hospital representative. Personally, she had a bout with a medical issue that was caught early and is now on the mend and doing well. She became an empty-nester with her son Aidan now enrolled at Furman University in SC. She is happy to report that she reconnected with Mary Clare Meade Sterret on the soccer field (their sons played for the same team) and they plan on drinking lots of wine together when they can socially distance outside when the warm weather arrives. Maureen had several favorite memories of TC. She loved the annual Well Sing with everyone putting on Lanz nightgowns with the different classes all serenading each other. She also loved Senior Class Prank Day. She doesn’t remember what our class did, but she does remember when the class ahead of us put a car in the Main lobby. Another favorite memory was exploring the underground tunnels and basements of Main & Alumnae with both Cheryl Carboni (85) and Ann Luhr. There was some really cool stuff down there.

Mary Sue Howley Dwyer and family

Mary Sue Howley Dwyer writes in that she had all three of her 20 somethings back living home for six months during the height of the pandemic. Two of them are still home working virtually (after virtual college graduations) and her husband is coming up on a year working from the third floor. Her business was fortunate to do very well over the past year. Her business makes dog collars and leashes and it seems everyone in the country got a rescue dog and needed to outfit them. Mary Sue’s best memory from Trinity that comes to mind (after seeing her girls lose the last eight weeks of college senior year) would be the camaraderie and friendships celebrated during the final weeks at TC and a beautiful graduation on that sunny day.

Mary Kirwin Formeller writes in that 2020-21 has been a big year with lots of wonderful changes. Her daughter Kate volunteered with the AmeriCorps Vista program in Denver for a year after graduating from JMU. Kate worked for the African Community Center (ACC), working with the refugee population. Following that Kate was hired by Volunteers of America in Denver as a project manager. During the 2020 Pandemic Kate earned her dream job and was hired virtually by ECDC ACC DC Metro. She is continuing her passion of advocating and working with the refugee population. She moved back to the DC area in July of 2020. Mary is thrilled to have her living 20 minutes away instead of 20 hours. After a very rewarding 37-year career with Montgomery County Public Schools Mary is officially retired as of July, 2021. She is striking out on her own and will continue to advocate for adults with intellectual disabilities. She is excited to get some travel time and having a daily schedule that is not run by bells. Mary has so many fond memories of Trinity but just one that comes to mind is “Where Do You Draw the Line?”

Isabel “Mimi” Sullivan and her family

Isabel “Mimi” Fitzer Sullivan writes as a third-generation TC alum, she grew up with loads of the TC traditions, including singing “Drink her Down” at family occasions as a child. Her favorite tradition was having a family alum march in the graduation procession. Marcella MacHale Seymour, (her grandmother) graduated in the red class of 1924 – 60 years before us. It was a special bond she got to share through shared reunion weekends, too, after graduation. Her grandmother really enjoyed sharing her love for Trinity through two of her daughters and again via three granddaughters. Mimi was blessed to have such a support system ready to celebrate graduation, and drink her down.

 

 

Patty Poirier and her husband Phillip

Patty Poirier writes in that she and her husband Phillip have managed to stay healthy and have used the time to complete several renovation projects on their house. Philip is talented in wood working and in just about any construction a house might need. Renovations included a beautiful screened-in front porch, renovated front door, screened-in back porch and, in a few weeks a complete 3-season room add on. In March, they adopted their latest rescue dog, Willie. He is mostly rat terrier and is fitting right in with their other dog Taco and cat Minnie. Patty and her husband bought a new travel trailer. In October/November they took off on a three week trip with their pets. They had a great time, and were able to safely visit family by staying at camp sites close to each of her siblings homes so that they could visit in an outdoor setting. Patty looks forward to hopefully retiring by end of the year and wants to take the camper everywhere, maybe follow the blue-grass festival circuit as a start.

Cathy Cunningham Skelly writes in that after raising their family in CO for the last 30 years she and her husband Dave are moving back to the east coast in VA. Dave plans to retire at the end of the year after 40 years at Johns Manville. Cathy has been in real estate for the past eight years and is trying to decide what’s next. Their middle child Grace is getting married in October so they are excited for that as well as spending more time with siblings on the east coast and Cathy’s parents in Philadelphia, PA. Cathy writes that her favorite memory of TC is the well sings. She lived in Old Main three out of four years and loved graduating up a floor each year. She also loved the education and friends at TC and hopes to make the 40th reunion.

Hilary Kurtz Elf and her husband, Dr. Randy Scott

Hilary Anne Kurtz Elf writes in that she married Dr. Randolph (Randy) Scott Elf on December 28, 2019 in Jamestown, NY. Her husband is an alumnus of Southwestern Central School, Duke University, and Syracuse University and is self-employed. Please note that the preceding note was sent in before Hilary Kurtz Elf passed away on April 11, 2021. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Randy Scott.

Lisa Carr writes in that she is keeping busy and enjoying her job at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She does national outreach to faith-based and community organizations on COVID-19, the vaccine, changes to the Affordable Care Act and other health and wellness issues. Her favorite memory from Trinity was mass at the Chapel and being part of the Campus Ministry.

Elizabeth (Liz) Schroder writes that she is in her 14th year working as a Financial Advisor with RBC Wealth Management in Westport, CT. She is also serving her sixth year on the Women’s Association of Financial Advisors (WAFA) Board at the firm. The mission of WAFA is to support the recruitment, retention and to enhance the productivity of female financial advisors and branch directors within RBC. Liz’s husband Mike is still teaching at Sacred Heart University in CT and they are celebrating their 28th anniversary. Their fourth child, Bridget, is graduating from Providence College next month. All four graduates are in accounting or finance jobs. Their fifth, Molly, is a junior at Clemson studying engineering. Liz has been in touch with many classmates including Karen Devine O’Brien, Kay Toohig Goulette, Joanne Donovan Caputo, Shauna Teelin, Marie Rexer Monde, Kathleen O’Neal Eidson, Kelly McDonnell Varano, and Mary Kirwin Formeller. One of Liz’s favorite TC memories was the Well Sing with so many classmates wearing Lanz flannel nightgowns although she didn’t have one. People seemed so happy gathering around, singing and smiling.

Francine (Donohue) Harrington, Mimi (Brady) Marquet, and Marylee (Kerester) Klunder

Francine Donohue Harrington writes in that after living in VA for 20 years she and her husband moved to another city in VA and had been there the past two years. Since they are empty-nesters and her husband can work remotely they ended up moving again in VA recently. Her three kids are doing well. Griffin is a photographer in Brooklyn, NY, Katie works for Booz Allen & Hamilton in Washington, DC, and Liam graduates this May and will be working in Bethesda, MD at an accounting firm. Francine’s mom is 94 and still lives in their Holyoke, MA home that she has lived in for 65 years. Francine loved the well sings in our Lanz nightgowns. And she’s glad she got talked into crew from Kim Griffin and Julia Greene Senior year when they desperately needed bodies in the 8 boat.

As for me, Elissa Felix Woodall, sadly my brother Steve and I lost our mom Barbara Ann (Lee) Felix (‘60) in May of 2020 due to cancer. We are fortunate and grateful she was in a safe place protected from exposure to COVID but it was difficult to not physically be close to her due to the restrictions in place. I was however with her on the night she passed away and am grateful she wasn’t alone. I am in my 10th year with Cherry Bekaert LLP and continue to love my company and co-workers despite the stress of a busy season which seems to be year round these days. I have so many favorite memories of my time at TC but the friendships and laughter rank up there at the top. There was always an adventure. I also have to credit my mom for my even attending TC. My mom loved her time there and it was her biggest wish that I go. I have to admit I had my concerns about attending an all-female school but in hindsight I’m so glad I did.

Stay safe everyone!

Elissa Felix Woodall
Elissawoodall925@gmail.com

2019

Red Class of 1984

Ellen Sonosky Carey has been living and working in Stamford, CT for 10 years now. Ellen works at Gartner Inc. For the last few years, her full-time focus has been on usability and UX research and she loves her work. It allows her to make use of her journalism training, website production, and IT experience all at the same time. In 2017, Gartner acquired CEB, another business research and advisory firm, so she occasionally has the opportunity to work in Arlington, VA where the former CEB is based. This gives her opportunities to combine work with a chance to see her siblings Paul, Mary Sonosky McCullough (’83) and Colleen Sonosky (’86). Luckily they stayed just ahead of Hurricane Florence last September while vacationing as usual in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Ellen was looking forward to another fun St. Patrick’s Weekend at the Dubliner and to seeing everyone at Reunion in June.

Mary Barton writes that since our last reunion she was named a Community Superintendent by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) for Community School District 27 in Queens, NY in July 2014. She has since retired after serving as superintendent for four plus years and after a 32 plus year career with the NYCDOE in September 2018. In her last position, she was responsible for the overall operation of the district including overseeing a team who assisted her in doing this work.  Her specific work included principal development and evaluation, and increasing school quality for 51 schools, three of which opened under her leadership since 2014.  Her recent work also included her overseeing the inauguration of the nationally touted 3K for All program, a full day school program for three year old students, which opened in District 27 in 2018, one of the first districts to do so in New York City.

Mary had some health issues since an accident in May 2017.  In the aftermath of the accident, she needed to have two surgeries, one of which was a wrist reconstruction.  She has been undergoing intensive physical therapy for the last year and a half and is nearly done with the therapy thankfully.  Mary is currently working as an educational consultant on a part-time basis, doing some traveling and enjoying her home at the beach in Breezy Point, NY.   Unfortunately, she will not be able to attend reunion this year as her niece is graduating from high school on June 1st but she sends her best regards to everyone. She is hoping to see everyone at the 40th!

Ryan, Caroline, Chris, Suzanne (Suzy) Brown van Dijk and her husband, Alex

Suzanne Brown van Dijk writes that she has enjoyed a successful 30 year career as a Managing Director with Marsh USA in multiple roles within corporate liability, risk management and operations in London, Atlanta, New York City, and Austin.  She left the company five years ago to enjoy her children’s high school years.  She and her husband Alex live in Bernardsville, NJ and are the proud parents of triplets, now 20, Ryan, Christopher, and Caroline each sophomores in college (Lafayette College, ELON, and Bucknell). In between risk management consulting opportunities, tennis continues to be a passion along with yoga, volunteering, spending time on Martha’s Vineyard and expanding her knowledge of wines!  Sadly, her mother Eileen O. Brown (1952) passed away this January at the age of 88.  She has been remiss in staying connected with fellow classmates but has enjoyed touching base with Marie Rexer-Monde over the years and recently received a lovely note from Donna Parkinson who was also her flat mate in London from1984-1986.

Isabel (Mimi) Fitzer Sullivan writes in that her son John is local and has a new association job and is doing well. Her husband Chris is busy with investments and taking cyber security courses. Mimi wrote of a funny “it really is a small world story” – Her daughter, Megan who graduated in December 2017 in only three and a half years wanted to move to Philadelphia where she didn’t know more than one person who was an acquaintance/friend from high school.  Megan talked with a local Arlington, VA friend Mary and told her she got a job and needed a roommate in Philly. Ironically, that night, Mary had dinner with a college friend who just got accepted to Temple grad school named Julia. Julia and Megan connect and Megan and Mimi find an apartment for the two of them. Mimi was in the process of putting some furniture together when they met all of Julia’s family.  Julia’s mother looks at Mimi and said “I know you- we went to school together”.  Lo and behold it turned out to be that Julia’s mother was none other than Laura DeSilverio Mead and her daughter is Julia. Mimi is looking forward to reunion and hopes to talk Laura and her husband Rob into coming. Mimi writes also that sadly after 15+ years, both of their rescue dogs (Chase and Maxwell) passed away.

Katie, Connor and Karen Devine O’Brien

Karen Devine O’Brien writes in that she and the kids are doing well all things considered.  Connor graduated last May from Cornell and he’s currently working at Deloitte in NYC and living with some friends from college in Chelsea.  Katie is still living in LA and working for 3 Arts Entertainment and luckily she gets to visit quite often so it’s not so bad having her live so far away.

Karen was able to do quite a bit of traveling in 2018. She spent a good amount of time in Ireland and England in June visiting family and amazingly the weather was fabulous in both places after an awful spring in CT.  Then in the fall she traveled to Greece with Katie for an amazing family wedding (a cousin on Richard’s side).  She and the kids decided to spend Thanksgiving in California again rather than be home on their own.  They went to England to spend Christmas at her Uncle’s house with all her cousins (19 all together for five days!) From there she and the kids went to Vienna for a few days after Christmas and it was really beautiful.  Then Karen travelled to Florida for a couple of weeks over the winter to help her Dad. She feels it was really good to get away though, and it was nice to be able to spend time with the kids after such a terrible year in 2017.  They all miss Richard terribly but think he’d be proud that they are all doing well and making the best of it.

As for me, Elissa Felix Woodall, I’m entering my eighth year at Cherry Bekaert LLP in Tysons Corner, VA.  Our firm moved offices across the street into a brand new building back in November.  I love our new office but I’m hoping not to have to ever move again, it’s amazing how much you accumulate over the years. Mark and I did our usual travel to Hilton Head, SC for vacation and visits with the in-laws in nearby Bluffton. Once again we managed to avoid a hurricane (Florence) unfortunately we were not able to extend our trip as planned to visit family in Pawley’s Island, SC and Wilmington, NC.  We continue to love the daily entertainment provided by our cats Pebbles and Bam Bam. I’m looking forward as well to seeing everyone at reunion.

Note: Our 35th reunion class party was held on June 1 at Matchbox in Washington, D.C.  A great time was held by all who attended and a special thanks goes to Karen Devine O’Brien for planning it.  I hope we get an even bigger turnout for our 40th!

Elissa Felix Woodall

2018

Kathleen Elliott-Birdsall is teaching third graders, and recently did a week-long bike trip through the Finger Lakes. It was rainy but wonderful. Her son, Noah, is in his third year of a four-year tour with the Marine Corps and is stationed in HI, where Kathleen and her daughter Julia had the good fortune to visit him last summer. Julia is a high school senior and has her heart set on the U. of Rochester, where she hopes to study biology, and then go to medical school, following in her grandfather’s steps. Kathleen and Julia were planning a trip to Amsterdam to see the sights and she was looking forward to that.

Betty Mullins Killian and her husband Michael are excited that their son Matthew will graduate from Lawrence Academy this spring. He will be attending Stony Brook U. in the fall and is committed to play baseball for them. Her daughter Meghan is living in the North End in Boston and working for Fidelity Investments. Betty and Michael are looking forward to their “empty nest” as they celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary!

Patty Poirier and her husband Philip have been renovating a third house in their New Orleans neighborhood that will become a rental in the near future. Patty’s sister Lynn (Mary Lynn Poirier, Class of 1977) and her husband, John, came to visit them over Mardi Gras earlier this year. They had a wonderful time together. Patty welcomes any inquiries to all who may visit about the ins and outs of visiting New Orleans, as she has been there for more than 20 years.

Karen Devine O’Brien has had a very difficult year with the loss of her husband Richard on August 5, 2017, as a result of a car accident on their way to see their son in Charlottesville. Karen is grateful for their amazing life together and for the great husband and father he was. Karen is also so grateful for all the classmates that rallied around her while Richard was in the hospital and after the funeral.

She had a wonderful long weekend get-together with Karen Komosa LaCroy of FL, Clara Dufficy-LaRosa and Ellen Flinn Dufficy who flew in from Denver, Mimi Marquet who came up from VA, Kelly McDonnell Varano who came from NJ, and Penny Forbes, Liz Schroder-Ward, and Diane Coogan Baker ’82 of CT. Mary Rosato also attended all the way from Italy. It meant a lot to Karen to have so much love and support of dear friends during this difficult time. Karen’s daughter Katie (24) has been living in Los Angeles for almost three years now working for 3 Arts (a production and management firm). Her son Connor (22) will be graduating in May from Cornell and has already got a job lined up at Deloitte in New York City.

Mary Kate Preziosi is working as a paralegal and is still living in Garden City, Long Island, NY.

Mimi Fitzer Sullivan just returned from Ft. Lauderdale where she ran her “best and biggest” conference ever. She is the VP of operations and events for the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, where she has been for 12 ½ years. She and her husband Chris have a full house along with dogs Maxwell and Chase. Their son John (26) moved back after graduation from the U. of South Carolina a few years ago and is job hunting. Megan (22) is newly home after graduating from U. of Mississippi in 3 ½ years from their Honors College. Mimi saw Madeline Klein Fleckenstein and her husband, Fleck, in early December. She sees Kathleen Brennan Kren and her husband Jim at St. Ann’s occasionally. The Kren’s son Paul will graduate from the U. of Alabama this spring.

Glorianne Garvin writes that after 20 years in Newtown, CT, they moved to Branford, CT, making for a shorter commute for her husband Xavier to putter on his boat. She saw classmate Madeline Klein Fleckenstein and husband, Fleck, who came with their son Peter in August for a day sail. Glorianne’s son Patrick (24) will soon be starting to hike the Appalachian Trail and is planning on moving out west to find a new nursing job when he finishes. Daughter Ellen (28) lives in Brooklyn with her fiancé, Mike. Glorianne works for Novocure selling Optune, a cancer therapy for glioblastoma from CT up through Buffalo. Her mom, Gloria Hicks Garvin (Class of 1960) turns 80 this year and Glorianne would love to take her to Paris with Cassie Garvin Primavera (Class of 1988) to celebrate.

I, Elissa, am celebrating seven years with Cherry Bekaert LLP (an accounting firm) and continue to love my co-workers and the company. We’ve recently expanded from an East Coast presence to out west with a location in Austin, TX. I’m still hoping for a location in the Caribbean one day. Mark and I still try to get to Hilton Head every year for vacation and visits with Mark’s parents in Bluffon. Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma shortened our trip last year but, considering how much suffering occurred in the rest of the world due to hurricanes, we have no complaints.

Elissa Felix Woodall
Elissawoodall925@gmail.com

2015

Mary Kirwin Formeller completed her first year out of the classroom and is happy in her new role.  She is helping young adults with various disabilities get jobs and transition out of high school.   Her daughter, Kate, finished her freshman year at JMU, did very well, and absolutely loves it. Kate, her roommates, Mary and her husband John headed to Ocean City, MD where they rented Ellen Hudson’s gorgeous beachfront condo.

Glorianne Garvin writes that after graduating from UVM her son Patrick started his first job as a nurse in the surgical intensive care unit at Albany Med last July. Her daughter, Ellen, is now an executive recruiter in Manhattan and just moved to Brooklyn. Her husband Xavier is a five year lung cancer survivor. They planned to sail on their vacation.

Francine Donohue Harrington has been living in Herndon, VA for 15 years and has been a preschool teacher for seven years. Her husband Patrick works in Georgetown at Havit Advertising. Her oldest Griffin  graduated from JMU and is working for Discovery. Her daughter Katie attends JMU. Her son Liam attends Herndon High School.  She is in contact with Mary Gutowski Schlitzer ’83 and Kim Griffin during Christmas time exchanging cards. She travels back to Holyoke, MA to see her mom as well.

Mary Barton became a superintendent with Department of Education in July 2014 after working for almost 30 years and moving up the ranks as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and then in a role supporting principal practice and evaluating schools. Specifically, she is the superintendent of Community School District 27 in Queens and oversees 48 schools ranging from elementary, middle, K-8 and a 6-12.   She is very busy with the responsibility of all of the schools and working with the central offices and all of its initiatives.

Mary heard from one of her old roommates Lisa Guiliano Kazmier.  Lisa and her husband Dave of 30 years are living in Florida with their two children. Lisa works part time as an accountant and  Lisa’s daughter graduated from college and her son will be started college last fall.

Betty Mullins Killian and her husband Michael are the proud parents of daughter Meghan who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University in Baltimore last May with a BBA in Finance. Meghan is working as a financial analyst in Boston.  Her son Matthew is doing well.

Liz Schroder met up last summer in Falmouth, MA with Nancy Hannigan McCabe ’85, Deirdre Carroll Soraci ’85, and Theresa Redmond ’85. Liz will have three children in college. Quinn and Elizabeth are both at BC as a senior and freshman, respectively. She got to catch up with Linda McCullough O’Leary when she was up in Chestnut Hill due to her closeness to BC. Her oldest daughter Megan is at Miami University, OH. Megan is friends with Ann Barrett Connor’s daughter Catherine. Her youngest two, Bridget and Molly are at Wilton High School and they keep Liz and her husband Mike busy with a lot a field hockey and lacrosse games. Last year ago Liz had her first real surgery – a total knee replacement. Recovery was going well and she hopes to be back skiing this winter.

Liz recently caught up with Honorine Wallack ‛85. She lives in Utica and is busy managing her clients and her family. She also spoke with Marie Rexer-Monde and Kathleen O’Neal Eidson who are keeping busy with their families and bump into one another in Atlanta. Liz got together with Shauna Teelin and Joanne Donovan Caputo when she was last in Syracuse visiting family. Joanne’s daughter Catie was planning to get married and she and her husband Chip are excited.

Kathleen Dwyer Cail and her family are living in Cincinnati, OH. Their oldest child Ben went to Skidmore College. Her daughter Grace will be entered her junior year of high school. In November of 2013 she and Grace visited Orlando and had a nice visit with Karen Komosa LeCroy. This past year she and her family took trips to Maine; Paris, France; Munich, Germany; Salzburg, Austria; Istanbul, Turkey; New York City, Massachusetts (where her family lives) and San Diego. In 2014, she joined the boards of two organizations, Positive Exposure, and Starfire. Since 2013, she has been in charge of the ReelABILITIES Film Festival in Cincinnati. It is a film festival which promotes the lives, stories, and art of people who experience disabilities. It was the festival’s third year and was very successful. Marlee Matlin, Danny Woodburn, Kurt Yaeger, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, and Attorney and ADA architect Arlene Mayerson attended. She encourages us all to consider looking around your neighborhoods and communities and get to know people who experience disability and their many gifts, invite them into your groups and help build social and employment connections for them.

Ellen Sonosky Carey writes that she is doing well in Stamford, CT and enjoying her job focusing on UX and usability at Gartner. She has been at Gartner for nine years – the longest she’s ever worked anywhere. At this writing, Ellen was headed off for a week of golf school on the Cape and just enjoying the great summer after the terrible winter we had. She gets down to DC often to visit her sisters Mary and Colleen and her brother Paul. Everybody is doing well.

As for me (Elissa) I’m now going on my fourth year with Cherry Bekaert LLP, an accounting firm, in audit in the Tysons Corner, VA office.  I love the company and my co-workers. We volunteered as an office with the 2015 World Police and Fire Games which was held this past year in Fairfax, VA. It was a great experience meeting athletes all over the world in the police and fire industry.  My husband Mark and I  headed to Hilton Head, SC last September for our annual trip and to visit my in-laws in Bluffton.

Elissa F. Woodall
Eaf17@verizon.net

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1984 In Memoriam

Hilary Anne (Kurtz) Elf

Hilary Anne Kurtz Elf, 58, of Los Angeles, Calif.,  died at 11:36 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time Sunday (April 11, 2021) in her home following a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born Oct. 25, 1962, in Los Angeles, a daughter of Joseph Cornelius Kurtz IV and Deborah Ann Austin Kurtz.

Hilary Kurtz grew up on North Bonhill Road in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, attended Brentwood Presbyterian Church for preschool; attended Kenter Canyon School for kindergarten; attended St. Martin of Tours School for grades 1 to 8, where she took part in cotillion; and spent summers of her youth at Beacon Bay in Newport Beach, Calif., which she described as being among the best times of her life. She was so excited about the family trip each August that she started packing in May. In addition, she at age 7 was a Brownie and at age 10 started her own business, selling greeting cards, wrapping paper, and stationery door-to-door. Diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade by her favorite teacher, she undertook special eye training through eighth grade. In 1980, she graduated from Marymount High School, where she was youth chairman of the school auction, sang in the choir, and took part in dancing, cotillion, and theater.

In 1980, she began her undergraduate program at Trinity College in Washington, D.C., and later transferred to American University in Washington, D.C. While in Washington, she enjoyed museums in, and the history of, the nation’s capital, was an avid photographer, and was an intern at the Republican National Committee. She attended 1981 and 1985 inaugural festivities for President Ronald Reagan, not knowing her future husband was also at the latter. Again unbeknownst to her, he was an hour ahead of her in line at the United States Capitol to pay respects to President Reagan when he lay in state in 2004.

After college, she went to real-estate school; worked at Kurtz Richards Wilson & Co., her father’s private investigation business; and with lifelong friend Molly Burke Harrigan started Just the Answer, a corporate-gift-consulting business. She later ran the business on her own, and was a caregiver to her mother for five years until her passing, her father for two years until his passing, and her brother for three years when he had a liver transplant.

Visit Hilary Kurtz Elf’s obituary at the Post Journal.com.

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