JILL JOHNSON NORTON

After several years studying dance in NYC, I returned to USF and earned a BA in Theater, a highlight was going on a USO tour to the North Atlantic and Artic Circle region to entertain troops as Vibrata in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, I went on to earn a MA in dance at FSU and taught a few years at (then) Florida Presbyterian. Lack of funding there encouraged me to return to USF for my teaching certificate which led me to employment at Baycrest Elementary,Tampa, teaching 3-5 grades. I was given the gifted children to work with because of my arty background and was encouraged by my principal to get certified in Gifted Education, which I did. That led to returning to USF to work on a doctorate in Gifted. I did all the coursework but never took the time to write my thesis. Life and death intervened. I had married Gary, took time out to have Alexandra, took as much time as I could to spend with my dying mother, helped some other young mothers to get The Children"s Museum of Tampa established. Then Gary bought a business in St. Louis where he had graduated from Washington University. so we moved to Chesterfield, where along came Veronica. There followed many years of volunteerism with their schools, Dance St. Louis, The Symphony, The Science Center, The Repertory Theatre and American Association of University Women. We love to sail and scuba dive and have visited so great places all over the world. I have many interests now including reading, playreading and movie discussion groups, bridge and canasta, and pilates, My greatest joy in a red-haired imp called Brayden, now 4. I love to go to movies and I am an avowed foodie. Life is good!
I am now living in Mt Pleasant, SC outside Charleston. Wonderful area for outdoor activities. I enjoy kayaking, beach walking, Audubon shorebird stewarding, meetups, gardening, book group, loving grandkids and enjoying great good health and vitality.