Biography of Mary Lynn Burrill Potts

I attended the University of Detroit '60'-'61'----thought I wanted to be a child psychologist (Ha!) So instead, I decided on a nursing career (should have listened to my mom in the first place!). Graduated from St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing, Dayton, Ohio --July, 1965 and married George Potts 2 weeks later at St. Mary's Church, Norwalk.

Off we went to take up married life in Gloucester City, N.J.-----George was playing semi-pro football for the Philadelphia Bulldogs and coaching and teaching at Gloucester City High School. I worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, NJ, and we both loved living so close to big city cultural life in Philadelphia and often visited George's college roommate and his wife in New York. Then, just prior to our considering buying a home in Cherry Hill, NJ, George suffered a severe neck injury during a football game and that was the end of his football. Since both of our families were back in Norwalk and by 1967 we had a one year old son, Christopher, we thought it was time to make the move back to Ohio.

We settled in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (between Akron and Cleveland) where we spent the next 39 yrs. and raised our 4 children: Trina age 39, Amy age 37, Shawn 34 and our oldest, Chris 44. All were involved in sports and band while in Jr. High and High School----so with George and me both busy with coaching, teaching(George--Cuyahoga Falls High ) (me--St. Thomas hospital, Akron) it was a pretty hectic time but fun. Then all four were soon off to The Ohio State University----Our car was so used to the many trips to Columbus I think we could have just pointed it in the direction of 71 South and it would have gotten us there automatically. All have married (whew---glad that's done!). Both of our daughters and families live in the Denver, Co. area and our two sons and their families live in the Columbus area. We have 5 grandchildren---Chris: Kelsie ---12yrs., Erin--10yrs. Trina: Kara--16 months Amy: Emily--4yrs. Shawn: Corbin--2yrs.

George retired from teaching in 1993 and went to work as a project manager for Falls Lumber and Millwork (owners were former students at Falls High) and at the same time he was a city councilman (20 yrs.). I retired from nursing in 2006-----my work experience included departments of Med-Surg., Gyn., ICU, Psych., Alcohol rehab and the last 30 yrs. in Same Day Surgery and PACU. I have many happy memories of those 30+yrs. and esp. the other nurses I had the privilege of working beside.

Now George and I are both retired and enjoying the fruits of our labor in Sun City Hilton Head which is really located in Bluffton, SC----a little piece of paradise! We have met so many wonderful couples here ---from all across the U.S. We play lots of golf, belong to a wine tasting group, a euchre group, Bon Appetit club, woodworkers club and The Buckeye Club which George helped to form and now has 400+ members. There are so many activities here it is difficult to choose which ones to try. We love living here and feel very blessed.

Looking forward to the reunion weekend-----see you at Cise and Sally's Friday, Aug.20. Mary Lynn

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