Joann Evans-Smith:  

The above picture of me was taken with my son, James, at his wedding, one of the happiest days of my life. During my Junior year at Curtis, I met and fell in love with a Senior, Ron Evans, one of our football players, who then graduated in June 1964. After graduating from Curtis, I was employed for a short time (2 years) as Secretary at both Irving Trust Company and then Price-Waterhouse. Not feeling I was quite where I wanted to be professionally, I sought employment at Francis I. duPont-Glore Forgan, as Executive Secretary to the N.Y. Stock Exchange Floor Partner, Harry K. Pujals. Ron and I got engaged and married in September of 1969. While I loved that position at duPont-Glore Forgan, I tendered my resignation in May of 1971 only because I was nine months pregnant and about to have my beautiful daughter, Colleen. Two years later, in May, Ron accepted a job transfer with Xerox Corporation to Rochester,N.Y., and in August of 1973, our son, James was born. Unfortunately, like many love stories, we did not live happily ever after.. We divorced, remaining on friendly terms because of our children. To this date, we still remain good friends and I have been to Staten Island many times to stay with and visit with his Mom, Mrs. Evans on Dudley Avenue, because for the past 50 years, she and I have been best friends. How is that for luck? After the divorce, I began working part-time for the Farmbrook Homes Association as Secretary/Treasurer, a subdivision of 769 homes. I also worked full time for an Attorney as a Legal Assistant, using the skills I learned at Curtis. I then joined the Victor-Farmington Volunteer Ambulance Corps and became a New York State Emergency Medical Technician. I have been a member of the Corps for the past 35 years and am a Life Member. I left the Attorney's office and sought employment at the Community College of the Finger Lakes and became Financial Director of the Continuing Education Department, a position I absolutely enjoyed as well as my colleagues. Unfortunately after four years of employment, I fell on black ice at our local mall while acting for the Corps. I broke my neck and my entire right arm, from the brachial plexus, the tree trunk of nerves that runs down the arm from your neck, tore my rotator cuff and destroyed my elbow as well as crushing my arm (radius) into the wrist and destroying the nerves. After several surgeries, and the help of the most wonderful orthopedic surgeon/doctor on this earth and rehabilitation, I was able to return to my profession as a Legal Assistant with another local Attorney, but only part-time, but had also maintained the Farmbrook Association position, which I did for 35 years. During my above position with the Farmbrook Association, working for the Attorneys and the Victor-Farmington Ambulance Corps, I also was voted in and elected as the Eight District Republican Representative of the Town of Farmington, as well as ran as a Representative to the Ontario County Republican Committee, ha...Expand for more