Dawn was born on Memorial Day in 1966 in Oakland, California, in a time before cell phones, iPads, and materialism. At this time in her life she enjoyed playing with her Barbie dolls and using shoe boxes and imagination to create the perfect Barbie dream home. She reflected often and cherished memories of all the girls she grew up with on Richmond Avenue where they put on plays, swam and knew when it was time to go home by the unique whistle of a certain mom.
She was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 13. This didn’t bother her as much as it should have because she was preoccupied with the fact that at the same time her parents decided to move her away from her father’s family and her friends across the country to Troy, “Ugh.” She would say that “Troy was fine to visit, but why do we have to live there?” In true Dawn spirit however, she made it her home. Found additional life-long friends and bonded with her East Coast relatives. After graduating from Catholic Central High School, Dawn attended the college of Saint Rose, and then the University of Albany where she earned her bachelor’s degree.
She moved to the great City of New York and began an astounding career in public relations. Her clients, that included the Bermuda Board of Tourism and Princess Cruises, respected and were dependent on her consultation and advise. At 32, she moved back to the Capital Region, continued her career at both Sawchuk Brown and later the Diocese.
It was at this time that she met her soulmate; Jimmy. They married on a rainy day in September, but Dawn was showered that day and every day since with light and love. For 14 years (2001-2015), Dawn had the great privilege of giving the first lecture to the first year medical students at Albany Medical College. It was a day she looked forward to every year and had a profound impact on thousands of current and future doctors. Dawn loved the beach, Irish pubs, dogs, her nieces and nephews and was extremely attracted to firemen. But let’s face it, who isn’t.
She will forever be missed.