Patricia "Pat"FERRONE

Patricia Ferrone Land

Pat's 2011 Autobiography

After Staples, I briefly attended the New York Foundling Hospital School of Child Care in NYC (the nuns and I didn’t see eye to eye)…I was then employed at Norwalk Hospital as a medical transcriber, promoted to secretary to the Assistant Hospital Administrator. . (I still yearned for a career in Nursing) … I graduated from Jersey City Medical Center School of Nursing ( a 3000 bed medical complex associated with Seton Hall Medical & Dental College overlooking the Hudson River - now being converted into luxury condominiums!) … After graduation, I was employed at Norwalk Hospital for over ten years (initially working in Med/Surg and then onto the ER - I was privileged during this time to care for many former classmates and their families) … I was married in 1975 ..we resided in West Haven (commuting during shift rotations was difficult and I regretfully left the ER a year later) … I worked briefly at Yale-New Haven Hospital with stints in-between at an internist office and managing a general surgeon’s office … We returned to Westport and in 1977, I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Jessica … With a booming real estate market, we sold the house in Westport and moved to Fairfield where I have lived for the past 34 years in the lovely Lake Hills district .. While raising Jess, I did private duty and nursing convalescent work (not my cup of tea) … In 1983, the marriage was “on the rocks” .. I was very fortunate to be hired by the Town of Fairfield Public Health Nurses as the School Nurse at Notre Dame High School (where I have happily spent the past 27 years) .. Norwalk ER invited me back to work part-time weekends and summers, I also taught classes at Norwalk Community College to Nurse’s Aides … (this was timely as it enabled me to have the same hours of school time as Jess) .. My mother came to live with us in 1988 with the onset of early Alzheimer’s (a journey that lasted 16 years and was exacerbated by the death of my eldest sister in 1998) …my life at this time was involved greatly with their care … However, there were wonderful things happening professionally - I was the first school nurse in the state of CT to institute an Asthma Support Group for my students in cooperation with the American Lung Association; I developed health, nutrition and screening programs, initiated a Student Assistance Team, and grief & support counseling groups .. I was published in nursing journals, inducted into the International Nursing Honor Society at Fairfield University and awarded School Nurse of the Year by the Town of Fairfield in ‘97 .. Before my sister’s illness, I was volunteering at the Americare’s Clinic in So. Norwalk & was a member of Adults & Children Together for the Town of Fairfield.. At my church, I was a religious educator, lector and member of the Parish Council .. And to top it all off, I was quoted in one of Tuchy Palmeri’s books!! … THEN, my daughter graduated from Ithaca College in ‘99 .. In 2008, she married my fantastic son-in-law Ryan .. She is currently Director of Volunteerism & Partnerships at Bottomless Closet in NYC - they live in Hoboken, NJ .. Thanks to Bernie Madoff, (the town of Fairfield’s pension was invested with his firm ) I was offered & accepted a retirement package in ‘09 .. Notre Dame H.S./Diocese of Bridgeport asked me to return in September as the Assistant Dean of Students & Tuition Coordinator .. I worked at this position for one year and decided that it was time to “take a break” & care for myself .. This past year I have traveled, visited with family & friends, taken an art history course at NCC, joined yoga & dance exercise classes, enjoyed baking with grandnieces (I have 7 nephews who have “produced” 13 grandnieces & nephews), and taking the kids on “culture tours” in NYC .. Life is good .. I plan on having another career .. I know what I DON’T want to do, I just have to discover what I want to be when I grow up!!

Well, that’s my story up to the now ..… I look forward to reacquainting with old friends, connecting with current friends, AND making new friends. See you in June!

P.S.: TO COLEYTOWN ELEMENTARY’S FIFTH GRADE CLASS OF MRS. JAMES - I HAVE OUR CLASS PICTURE - I AM BRINGING IT WITH ME!!