Kathy Hogan:
CLASS OF 1970
Billerica Memorial High SchoolClass of 1970
Billerica, MA
Boston Museum - Fine ArtsClass of 2008
Boston, MA
Yestermorrow Design Build SchoolClass of 2008
Warren, VT
Conway School of Landscape DesignClass of 1976
Conway, MA
University of MassachusettsClass of 1975
Amherst, MA
Kathy's Story
Ah, life. After life at BHS skipped graduation to backpack across Europe with my BHS'68 friend Pam Hughson. Came back to UMass, had an apt. with 3 girlfriends in Amherst. Dropped out in the middle of finals at the end of sophomore year. Yeah, big duh. Had no goals, wanted to experience real life.
Got work in tech industries, Connector Technology in Billerica and ComputerVision in Burlington in assembly, shipping, met great folks and had good times. Met Bob Iannazzo, who would later be my first husband through friends-- good man-- got an apartment in Woburn (which was yuck). But boredom set in at work, started calling in "sick" a lot -- time for a change.
Decided to go back to UMass, but first a great summer in Europe on the cheap. Moved into a house with old BHS '08 friend, Angie Carbone and her husband David, and their friend in an old farmhouse in Sunderland. Great times. Majored in Landscape Architecture and City Planning, very focussed and interesting. One of 15 from 100 selected for Senior Design Studio. Great work/study with Amherst Town Planner, best of times. Married Bob in classic hippy wedding. But at the end of program, needed more to get a job.
Discovered the Conway School of Landscape Design -- intensive 1yr grad program with class of 14 functioning as an office with real paying clients, hands on! Director Walt Cudnohufsky focused my life beyond career.
First job in Franconia, NH with regional planning office as town center revitalization specialist. Then Amherst Planner Dale Pope called me to work for his new office, the Gloucester Downtown Development Commission, as planner/designer. Living in Gloucester was a great trip, lived in Lanesville, all kinds of interesting people.
When funding started winding down, got Boston job at Metro Aea Planning Council (MAPC) heading Downtown Revitalization Department, directing team of planners, transp. engineers, designers, real estate consultants. Commuting from home in Gloucester, but marriage troubled, ended up leaving for apartment in Boston, then bought a condo near City Hall in Cambridge.
Next job with quasi-public state agency, Mass.Govt.Land Bank, small group where we financed and developed real estate projects with public purposes (housing, economic development, u...Expand for more
rban revitalization). Office romance with my boss, David Knisely, who eventually left to start his own law practice. Was Acting Director when David and I decided to marry and start a family. Had a great apartment in Harvard Square, then bought a home in North Cambridge.
Left work when first child, Charlie, was born, never returned to that career. Had second, Lila, 2 years later. Life was a blur of navigating schools, lots of kids activities, block parties, started and headed a PTA, volunteered with MassAudubon, etc. Arts couses in watercolors, stone sculpture and mostly clay. Also saw elderly parents through illnesses and death (father by cancer, mother by Alzheimer's). Lots of travels, in Europe, Caribbean, US.
Had a great year at School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, but decided that arts were my hobby, not my career.
Lately more volunteer work and some part-time pay with MassAudubon as trail guide, science teacher for class of home schoolers, illustrator, deed research, etc. Also volunteer with start up JazzBoston.org, where I was in charge of volunteers in all volunteer organization: recruiting, training, managing. Got to meet lots of interesting musicians, got to know the people in the city who ran the clubs (Regattabar, Scullers, Wally's, Beehive, Berklee Performance, etc.).
NOW empty nester with Lila in NYC at the New School/Eugene Lang College, and Charlie at Clark U. in Worc. but presently studying abroad in London for a term.
New life with husband is very good. Do part time support work with his law practice, conversion of surplus military bases to civilian uses. Lots of serious cooking, arts -- presently teaching myself rug hooking, a traditional craft but I'm focused on contemporary designs. I often take a week in Gloucester in the summer, also up to Liberty Hill Farm in VT when I can. David and I travel a lot, esp. NYC, Toronto, San Francisco, etc. heading to London in April. Latest adventure was Jan.08, spent 3 weeks in Dominican Republic on Samana Peninsula with architecture students doing design/build project. Volunteered extensively for Barack Obama, esp. canvassing in NH.
Today is inauguration, big party at my house!
Would love to hear how all of your stories came out -- I bet they are amazing stories.
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