THE BRIDE- I was the oldest of three siblings and born in Maryland. I have a sister Pam and a brother Randall. Growing up, we moved several times; to Oklahoma, Illinois and then to Smithfield, RI where I spent the majority of my childhood years. I chose to head back to the midwest and attend Nursing School at the University of Evansville where I had a wonderful college experience. I joined the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority and am blessed with many lifetime sisters. I began my Nursing Career working at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville ,Tennessee working in the Burn Center there and then transitioned to working Pediatrics in the Pediatric Surgery unit.
As life circumstances changed, I moved several other times. I worked at UAB in Brimingham, Alabama. I next lived in Pennsylvania for four years working at Hershey Medical Center in Pediatric Med Surg and then the Pediatric Intensive Care. PICU Nursing has been my love ever since. Since my move to Ft. Lauderdale in 1993, I have continued my nursing in the PICU at Jackson Memorial Hospital in the Holtz Children Hospital, which is world-reknowned for its Transplant Program. It is an exciting hospital to work at and I have the best co-workers. I am blessed with five amazing children and doubly-blessed with three grandchildren! My oldest daughter is Katherine is a graduate from the University of Central Florida. She and Jason met in Orlando and were married in 2017. They have a daughter Hailey who is now four and our newest grandchild, a son named Hudson, is seven months old. Katherine is also Registered Nurse nurse and works at Winnie Palmer Hospital. They reside in the Orlando area. Alex, my only son, graduate for the University of Florida for undergraduate and received his Master’s degree through the Naval Post Graduate school in Monterey Ca. Alex married his high school sweetheart Katie, or KD, in 2014, right after completing his Officer training for the US Navy in Newport, RI. They reside in the Maryland/DC area where he is stationed at the Pentagon. Their daughter Morgan just turned one years old. Sarah, my middle child, moved to Dallas from Tallahassee several years ago and works in the food industry business. She completed her Yoga teacher training and hopes to pursue this passion more. She is recently engaged as well to Josh who is a native Texan. Chris is my next daughter and she is currently living and working in Tallahassee. Her passion is Theater and doing technical work for shows. She met a nice young man Bryan and they have been dating over a year now. She just turned 21 yrs old which is exciting. Susanna is fifteen and is definitely grown up, although she will always be my baby. She stays with me on my days off and with her father on the nights I work. She is doing well academically in school, has a strong interest in and plays Girl's Lacrosse at the high school, and has a great group of friends that do everything together.

My parents and sister after living many years in Rhode Island, relocated to the Staunton, Virginia area. My brother Randall and Lianne have live outside of London. My passions are Yoga ( although it has unfortunately taken a back seat since COVID ), taking pictures ( do you dare look at my phone?), scrapbooking, and traveling. I attend Church by the Glades on my weekends off and like being in the wonderful LifeGroups there. As you might imagine, since I have met Dave, my life is now full of surprises and new adventures!

THE GROOM-

Dave was born in Arkansas where he and his parents lived for several years before moving to Chicago. Both sets of his grandparents and lots of cousins lived there. Dave has two younger brothers, Danny and Darren. Their family lived in Chicago until Dave's Sophomore year in high school when his father relocated the family to Delray Beach.

Dave attended Davidson College in North Carolina ( outside of Charlotte) to pursue Pre-Med. He soon realized he was more interested in pursuing a career in Law and switched majors. Dave completely put himself through college and through Law school, and has many interesting stories about these jobs! I am so very proud of him!

Dave was very active in college and continues to have strong ties to Davidson and to the friends he made there. He joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity where he thoroughly enjoyed Greek Life with his Brothers. Dave is currently active in Alumni relations for his class.

Dave attended Law School at UNC Chapel Hill, deepening his love for North Carolina. After his graduation and receiving his juris doctor there, however, he returned home to Delray Beach to help care for his father who was very ill. Dave has been living in Delray Beach ever since.

Dave officially began practicing Law on November 5, 1982, which is quickly approaching forty years! since he first was sworn in at the Federal Courthouse!! He practices Real Estate and Probate Law. He was law partners with Attorney Ernest Simon for many years, and upon Ernie's death, Dave now runs the practice by himself (with the help of his highly competent paralegal staff of course!)

Me sharing with you that Dave has and is extremely active in the City of Delray Beach community wouldn't begin to describe all that he has done and continues to participate in!He is too kind and humble to brag about it, so I will do it for him.

From 1997-2000, Dave served on the City Commission. He then was elected Mayor of the City of Delray Beach in March 2000 and served two terms as Mayor for a total of three years until 2003. ( Yes this means he was Mayor during 9/11!)

Dave has been a longtime member of the city's Chamber of Commerce, serving as Chairman of the Board last year. With his law expertise, Dave serves as the attorney for the Delray Beach and Palm Beach County Community Land Trusts. His community work doesn't stop there as Dave serves on the Foundation Board for the Achievement Center for Children and Families. Dave is also has been active on the Old School Square Board in Delray and is a member of the Delray's Historical Society.

One of Dave's shining achievements in my opinion, and one which has given him great happiness, is his involvement in the Japanese culture through the Morikami Museum and Gardens and Delray Beach's Sister Cities program.

It began when his mother, whose employer was a friend of George Morikami approached Dave to serve on the Board of Directors the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. at that time and that which once started is an appreciation for nature and safeguarding the Japanese culture, became so much more. Dave served on the Morikami Board for seventeen years ( from 1985-1994 and then from 2004-20120) in several capacities, the last four years serving as President.

During this time, Dave co-ordinated eight student exchange trips to Japan to George Morikami's hometown Miyazo, Kyoto through the Sister Cities Organization. His first trip to Japan was in 1994 and continued every other year. Dave also was involved in Sister City trips to Tanzinia, Africa and Pesaro, Italy.

In October 2018, Dave was recognized by the Government of Japan with one of the highest ranking civilian honors. It is awarded to those who contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and other countries. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Counsel General of Japan.

I would also like to mention that Dave never mentioned ANY of these community involvements until about a month into our dating. That's the kind of man he is! He is kind, generous of his time and talent, and always wanting to make a positive difference in this world.... simply because. Dave is not one to seek out public recognition. However, he has a long list of friends and aquaintances from school and in Delray, and people know him wherever we go.

Dave loves to play golf, to travel, to expand his eclectic music collection, and to watch sports...esp the Chicago White Sox! And... did I mention he is a huge fan of anything Davidson or North Carolina related?! He has attended mass regularly at St. Vincent's Church since first moving to Delray Beach.