Diana Montgomery Lavagnino
Biography Submitted for Our 40th Class Reunion, 1995

Hi Ladies
(Ed. That would be Irene Taylor and Dee Williams Ropers, editors of Panther Tracks 1995)

Apologies for being late. I doubt that I am the only one late to respond, But I’ll bet my life that I am the only one who was on a French Polynesian freighter in the Marquesa Islands when she was cabled that her Napa Valley home was flooded. Technically, I haven’t come ‘home’ yet. However, since my return in April I have been renovating, and took two weeks off to visit my daughter and 10 months old grandson in Boston (she is three months pregnant with #2. So far, not a dull year.

The first 20 years were pretty ho-hum – two years at UCLA, married in 1957, almost died in 1959, two daughters born by 1966, almost died in 1970, husband took a permanent hike in 1978. Then the fun began.

Put girls through college, sold Pleasant Hill CA home, purchased four-unit building in San Francisco, bought a Ford 250 diesel truck and a 5th wheel trailer and started traveling from Washington to Florida, from Maine to Mexico.

Then in September 1991 I came within hours of checking out permanently a 3rd time. After 10 days in ICU and three more weeks in the hospital (during which time I had a stroke) I was weakly grateful to turn 54 and decided to have fun on what is now, definitely, bonus time.

Have since traveled to Australia, New Zealand, and Japan; Honolulu, London, Paris, and Madeira; Costa Rica and Panama Canal plus four Caribbean cruises. In most of these I try to scuba, snorkel or whitewater raft.

Also married off one daughter, buried my father and my grandmother (at 101 years old, I guess she was the source of tough genes). I am presently helping my mom get over the flood – she totally lost everything. What I didn’t lose in the flood was stolen, including my computer. That why this letter is hand written.

Lifestyle – live alone and love it! Having cheated death three times, I say to hell with it – still smoke, drink, party, and eat whatever-whenever. Move to St. Helena two years ago where I swim and bike plus do personal accounting for private clients. Life is good.

Addendum – July 2005

Still live in St. Helena - have continued to travel to some exotic places, e.g., a kayaking expedition through the rock islands of Palau and this year's safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Have broken a few hearts and had mine broken once. "Who Knew" you could still do that while pushing 70!!! Looking forward to seeing you soon....Diana