Page 6 - January 2017 Newsletter
P. 6
business and operations strategy. My overwhelmed by emotion at both
last position was with IBM, from which having a chance to vote for myself and
I retired in 2011.” (potentially) the first woman
President. If anyone is interested in
Carolyn was the wife of the late Eric government service in a local elected
Jacobs. He served as Chief of Staff position, I would encourage her to
and Township Administrator under two start as a volunteer and develop
previous mayors. The couple raised expertise in a particular area".
two daughters together, Lisa, a nurse
practitioner, and Deborah, a first- Dr. Ruth Hurwitz, a retired faculty
grade teacher. For many years member, is now an attorney practicing
Carolyn served on the Cherry Hill family law. She wrote to say she
planning Board as a member and later enjoyed the last printed issue of the
as chairperson. Carolyn also found Alumnae News, especially the cover.
time to be a community volunteer. Ruth mentioned that she taught
She has been a court-appointed business subjects at GHS from 1957 to
advocate for children removed from 1962 including "typing, some
home because of abuse or neglect. shorthand or brief hand” and some
She has worked with the BookMates bookkeeping and she started the
Literacy Program, and serves on the business staff of the Iris Leaflet. She
board of her synagogue, Temple Beth observed that in her neighborhood and
Sholom. at her synagogue are about five
women she taught at GHS!
Carolyn noted that Girls’ High helped
her to climb the ladder of success. She Margaret (Peggy) Beecham (June
wrote: "Girls’ High was a wonderful 1966) sent a news update about a
foundation stone for my life, teaching sparkling and active alumna. Peggy
me lessons that I have taken to heart wrote: "I’m happy to provide this
and have incorporated into my ’grown- information about Marie McKinnie
up’” life. I learned to speak my mind Bessicks, whom I fondly
without fear, to write clearly and well, call “Aunt Marie!” She is one of my
to be tolerant of difference, to think late mother’s longest and dearest
strategically and analyze situations friends, and was in large part
before acting, to be both a good responsible for my wanting to attend
leader and a good teammate. I The Philadelphia High School for Girls."
learned to live my life with “purposeful
directness.” Dr. Annette Tyree Debisette (June
Looking back at the election, she 1977) sent this
wrote: "Now that I am retired, I find message: "Happy
great satisfaction in giving back to a New Year to you!!!! I
community that has given so much to was the graduation
me. I started out as a volunteer in an Speaker at the at the
area that interested me (community Second Degree
development) and have been Nursing Program at
fortunate enough to have been chosen
to run for local office. November was Duquesne University School of Nursing
especially thrilling for me as I was able in Pittsburgh, PA on July 29,2016. Dr.
to walk into the voting booth and put Debisette is a Captain in the United
a mark next to my own name. I came States Public Health Service and a
out of that voting booth tearfully Nursing School educator.
