diana smith (pettit)
1960 |
I'm in denial! It can't be 50 years since we all graduated from Catalina H.S. That's just not right! I enrolled at the UofA in the fall of 1960, joined a sorority, and received a BA in Education in 1964. I taught in California for a year and decided it wasn't for me. I returned to Tucson and met and married my first husband in 1966. After a year of living in San Francisco and Boston, we returned to Tucson. My lovely daughter Erika was born in 1969. I was fortunate to be able to stay at home with her until my husband and I divorced in 1979. It was then that I realized I needed to be gainfully employed. I began my career at a contract furniture dealership, where I discovered an aptitude and passion for interior design. My lovely, talented, patient husband Mark and I were married in 1981, and Erika now has a sister Karen and two brothers, Paul and Lee. In 1983 I joined a very large architecture and engineering firm, worked as a junior designer for awhile, and when I had enough miles under my skis, I passed the NCIDQ and joined ASID. I developed and interest in Healthcare Interior Design and consequently designed hospitals and healthcare facilities in California, Florida, New Mexico and Alaska. I even traveled to Bangkok twice to design cleanroom facilities for a microchip manufacturer! In 1997 my firm was sold to an international conglomeration and soon I was the one remaining interior designer. I became an independent design consultant shortly thereafter. One of my clients was the Herman Miller dealership in Tucson. One thing led to another, and I was asked to design the interior of their new building. I joined their firm in 1998 and designed all their special projects until the spring of this year. I think I'm retired! I am happy to report that all our kids are happy, married, gainfully employed, and not one has robbed a bank! They have blessed us with a total of seven grandchldren, all of whom are healthy and smart! Mark and I enjoy traveling and have plans for several trips in the near future. Life is good!
Sadly, Diana has passed away. (Last Updated: 2022) |
Mark and Diana
2010 |