Jo-Ann McFearin

Cornell Name: Jo-Ann Dragonetti

Current Home City: Cleveland, Ohio

Your College: Human Ecology

Email Address: Jo-Ann@JoAnnMcFearin.com

Tell us what you’re doing with your life:
I worked in the consumer products industry in various levels of sales, marketing, management with several large national companies. Ended up in Cleveland OH with GE Lighting. I have been a top realtor in Cleveland now for 17 years. 2 wonderful children! My son graduated from RIT and my daughter graduated from University of Louisville. I enjoy working out, running, rollerblading, golf, travel and on-going learning and challenges. I am a certified personal trainer and also a wellness coach. I have done stand-up comedy. I am single with lots of energy. I am blessed with great friends and a great business that allows me flexible time to do what I enjoy. I also enjoy giving back – and am currently on City Council. Looking forward to seeing everyone at reunion!

In what year did you last set foot on the Ithaca campus, and what was the purpose of your visit?
Graduation!

List your favorite class(es) while at Cornell.
Consumer Economics and Nutrition 101

Which piece of information or advice did you pick up while a student at Cornell that has been useful in the past 40 years?
There is always going to be more to do than you can do… you just have to figure out what is the most important thing to do with the time you have.

Which piece of advice or information turned out to be completely WRONG?
The date winter actually ends in Ithaca

Provide your favorite memory of your time at Cornell.
“face time” at the library

Tell us about the most interesting things you’ve done since 1977.
– Performed stand up comedy at the Improv
– Played golf at the Emirates Golf Course in Dubai
– Ran a 5K race in Dubai
– My photo was in the United Hemispheres Magazine
– I ran 7 half marathons in one year… including the A1A in Fort Lauderdale on a “big” birthday & a women’s half in Toronto
– Ran one international marathon (started in Canada and ended in Detroit)
– Ran and was elected to City Council

Share any random or surprising encounters with Cornell or Cornellians since you left.
As a realtor, I usually never meet a buyer who purchases one of my listings as I represent the seller. On the one rare occasion I did, she actually graduated from Cornell. We have stayed in touch since then!

What advice would you give to a member of the Class of 2019?
Stay in touch with your classmates through all the means you have available. Having the fact that you graduated from Cornell will go a long way on your resume.

Do you have a favorite memory from a Class of 1977 reunion?
This is going to be my first reunion.

What are you looking forward to at our 40th reunion in June, 2017?
Being back on campus and meeting new people!

Cara Lebowitz Kagan

cara-2Cornell Name: Cara Lebowitz

Current Home City: Dix Hills, New York

Your College: Human Ecology

Email Address: clk816@aol.com

Tell us what you’re doing with your life:
After graduation, I went on to get my MA at NYU while I worked as a Nutrition Educator. I then spent 35 years as a Medical Office Administrator, managing my husband’s practice. We have 2 wonderful daughters, Michelle and Erica ’05, a great son- in-law, Joel ’99, a terrific soon to be daughter-in-law, Leslie, and three extraordinary grandchildren, Juliet, August and Jude!

In what year did you last set foot on the Ithaca campus, and what was the purpose of your visit?
I am fortunate in that I return to campus several times each year. Reunion, Homecoming and Council are weekends I so enjoy!

List your favorite class(es) while at Cornell.
There are way too many classes to choose one favorite but I can certainly pick my least favorite–Organic Chemistry! The sight of Baker Hall still makes me shiver!!

cara-old-picWhich piece of information or advice did you pick up while a student at Cornell that has been useful in the past 40 years?
I think we all learned very soon after arriving on campus that Cornell is not for the faint of heart. I learned the lesson of the rewards that come from hard work–it has served me well for over 40 years!

What advice would you give to a member of the Class of 2019?

4 years go by so quickly! Enjoy every minute!

What are you looking forward to at our 40th reunion in June,
2017?

We are working hard to plan our best Reunion yet ! I hope everyone will come back for a wonderful weekend. CU in June!

Donna Copley

Version 2

My current photo is from Cole’s wedding at the Outer Banks. Cole is the very tall young man with the sunglasses. Darragh is the gorgeous blond in the aqua dress.

Cornell Name: Donna Darragh

Current Home City: Myrtle Beach

Your College: Human Ecology

Email Address: cornell77reunion@gmail.com

Twitter Handle: @missdeeinpre

Tell us what you’re doing with your life:
I obtained my Masters degree in Special Education from the College of William and Mary. I ended up staying in Virginia for the next 30 years working the public school system in a variety of positions in special education. My two proudest accomplishments are my children Darragh and Cole. They both live in Fredericksburg Virginia so I’m able to visit with both of them when I travel there. In 2007 I retired from teaching and relocated to Myrtle Beach, SC to take care of my father and also made the trip to New York frequently to spend time with my Mom to take care of her.

In what year did you last set foot on the Ithaca campus, and what was the purpose of your visit?
I attended RKO weekend this past September. I usually take a summer class with Cornell Adult University. I have gotten very familiar with campus and all the changes.

momandmedg

The picture from my Cornell days is from DG’s parents weekend in the fall of 1976 with my Mom. She’s even wearing a red outfit for the festivities.

List your favorite class(es) while at Cornell.
Typing in the Hotel School
Developmental Psychology
Nutrition Labs

Which piece of information or advice did you pick up while a student at Cornell that has been useful in the past 40 years?
One of my professors told our class one day that people who are left handed are more adaptable since they live in a right handed world. She further provided some housekeeping advice. If you can’t dust, put lower watt bulbs in your fixtures as it will help hide the dust.

Provide your favorite memory of your time at Cornell.
I can remember very clearly getting ready with all my fellow DG’s for graduation. We were pretty emotional as we knew it was the last time we would all be together to help each other get ready for any events.

Please provide some items from your Bucket List.
I want to travel more, I really want to go to Australia.

What advice would you give to a member of the Class of 2019?
Take advantage of opportunities outside of your studies. You will make more friends and find an activity that may inspire you.

Do you have a favorite memory from a Class of 1977 reunion?
I love our 20th. It was the last time we were on West Campus and stayed in the UHalls. There was time to talk and catch up with classmates on West Campus, where it all started.

What are you looking forward to at our 40th reunion in June, 2017?
I hope that I will see and reconnect with classmates who I haven’t been in touch with since graduation and make new friends.

 

Donna LaVallee

donna-lavalleeCornell Name: Donna Fulkerson

Current Home City: San Francisco

Your College: Human Ecology

Email Address: dkf7@cornell.edu

Twitter Handle: @LaValleeDonna

Tell us what you’re doing with your life:
Married Corky LaVallee ’77 graduation weekend and toured the world with his Navy Career: high point: 3 years in Yokosuka, Japan. I spent 25 years as a community nutritionist working primarily with families with small children, earning a MS from Syracuse University in the mid-80’s Also, had our daughter, Leslianne, in 1985. Moved to Rhode 01f5aef940f2b073759d56b585f6e50c8a26553c84Island in the late 80’s and managed to stay in one state until 2004! Went back to school at the University of Rhode Island and got a MS in Textile Conservation. Did an internship at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in NYC and an apprenticeship at The Textile Workshop in South Salem, NY. Moved to Connecticut in 2004 and San Francisco in 2006. Worked briefly at the de Young museum in San Francisco and then The Lace Museum in Sunnyvale. Have just changed to volunteering as a Health Navigator at the Community Wellness Center at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Have 3 fun grandsons who live too far away – in Massachusetts.

In what year did you last set foot on the Ithaca campus, and
what was the purpose of your visit?

5 years ago for our 35th Reunion! I try to get to all our class
reunions – I always have such fun and I make sure I’ll see the people
I want to see by reaching out and encouraging them to attend!

List your favorite class(es) while at Cornell.
Bronfennbrenner’s child development
all my food science classes
Marge Devine’s intro to nutrition

What are you looking forward to at our 40th reunion in June,
2017?

Seeing Friends and making new ones

Donna is the Class of ’77 Affinity Chair for our 40th Reunion