Home: Pacific Palisades, CA. Age: Forty-five. Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA. Profession: Post-fire recovery advocate and journalist. Alma mater: Harvard University; University of Notre Dame Law School; University of Southern California. Languages spoken: English, Italian and Spanish.
Current project: Advocating for Palisadians in the wake of the Palisades Fire. Recent professional development: LAFD CERT training (Community Emergency Response Team). Latest contribution to others: Organized and hosted eight giveaway days for those who lost homes in the Palisades Fire. Hobbies: Hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains and birding. Last book read: The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. Recent unique acquisition: One of Stephen Sondheim’s Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602 pencils.
Moral compass: The Ten Commandments. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Under-promise and over-perform. What is your greatest joy? My godchildren, nieces, nephews and dogs. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Vintage pencils in search of the ultimate graphite. What is at the top of your bucket list? Machu Picchu. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Family.
What was your favorite college course? Introduction to Shakespeare. What book have you repeatedly read? Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Gary Cooper. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? Barbara Jean. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Remote control of my thermostat. What is your go-to source of news and information? The Associated Press and extensive confirmation research.
What change would you like to see in the world?
A shift from reflexive division to principled dialogue.
What message do you want to send out into the world? Differences should be navigated with rigor and respect. What widely held belief do you reject? That winning matters more than getting it right and just. What mega-trend most concerns you? The digital era eliminating paper options for future generations.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Reasonable Doubt. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A veterinarian. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Photographs. What advice would you give your younger self? Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Favorite quote: "Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny" (Lao Tzu). Desired epitaph: She was drawn to nature in all its phases, and through it found a path to the house of the Lord.
