Mom's Autobiography: The Flight of Fifty Years

This is one of two brief essays Mary Fran wrote, apparently for a 50 Year class reunion at her High School -- Old Trail. The other essay is called ``Mom's Autobiography: My Life in a Nutshell." You can find the other briefer essay below here.

THE FLIGHT OF FIFTY YEARS Mary Frances Dannemiller Jarrold


When I think that fifty years has passed since graduating from Old Trail School, I am overwhelmed. Time has gone so quickly but filled with many happy memories. Life has been good to me. I am most appreciative of the varied experiences, opportunities, and many good times. I feel blessed and fortunate that fifty years has treated me generously and graciously.

From Old Trail School I went on to graduate from college - Akron University. After college I became a stewardess for American Airlines in August of 1952. I flew for twelve years and left the job after I fell in love with Jerome Thomas Jarrold and married in October of 1964. Those were the days when stewardesses had to quit when they married or turned 32 years of age. How times have changed! My days of flying where happy days. I traveled throughout the United States logging over one million miles as a stewardess. I enjoyed trips to Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Mexico and may other parts of the world. I started out flying the Convair 240 (2 engine airplane) and the DC6 (four engine airplane). I flew the inaugural flight on the DC7 in 1954 leaving John F. Kennedy Airport (in those days Idlewild Field) non-stop to Los Angeles. What exciting times - seeing the Atlantic Ocean on takeoff and nine hour later bathing your tired and sore feet in the Pacific Ocean. I can say I literally walked from New York to Los Angeles. Flying was fun in those days. You met many interesting people from celebrities to the plain and ordinary folks. In 1958 the 707 Boeing Jet joined American's fleet. What an airplane - coast to coast in six hours. An absolute wonder! However the advent of the jet change the life of a stewardess. You flew more trips, carried more passengers with many more elaborate services. In 1958 I became active in the Airline Steward and Stewardesses Association. I was an member of the American Airlines contract negotiating team negotiating a contract in 1960 and 1962. I was a permanent member of the American Airlines Stewardess System Board of Adjustment hearing stewardess grievance cases. What a broadening experience this was! In 1962 American Airlines Stewardesses testified in the United States Congress regarding the rule that stewardesses had to leave the job under contractual obligations at the age of 32 or when they married. I look back and realize that this was the advent of the women's lib movement. I feel proud to have been involved. It was scary - you were face to face with a lot of powerful men in times when women were to be seen and not heard. Influenced by our testimony Congress added to the pending Civil Rights Bill that discrimination because of age or marital status was unconstitutional, The passage of the Civil Rights Bill in 1966 ended these injustices.

After I married my husband and I moved to Connecticut. We built a house in 1968 in Easton, CT - a small rural community boarding Westport, Fairfield and Weston. We had there beautiful and natural acres. I became an avid gardener and spent many pleasurable hours in my garden Our son, William Lawrence was born in 1966 and my son, Thomas Edward was born in 1969. Our two boys were the source of our joy - always loving, good students, ambitious and responsible. They graduated high school from Fairfield Preparatory School in Fairfield, CT - a Jesuit school. Bill went on to MIT in Boston graduating in 1986 and Tom graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1989. Presently Bill is working at CYC Corporation in Austin, Texas doing research in Artificial Intelligence and plugging away working on a doctorate degree. Tom is in the fast pace environment of advertising He just transferred from New York City to Los Angeles.

Besides raising my two boys, I was very active in my community in Easton. For two years I was president of the Parent/Teachers Association. I was involved in my Church, Note Dame of Easton and on the Parish Council. I held an office in the Easton Garden Club and ran several fund raising events. I became involved in a non-partisan group - Citizens for Easton - a watch dog group to protect an preserve the rural character of our wonderful town. Citizens for Easton was instrumental in adding acres of open space to our community; dedicated to preserving farm lands; initiating ordinances to protect Easton's natural beauty - particularly the stone walls from colonial days - so characteristic of Connecticut. I love Easton and it will always be a source joy, happiness and fond memories.

My husband was an ardent sailor We spent our summers sailing the Long Island Sound and the waters of Cape Cod. Those were happy and exciting days. Jerry made a sailor out of me and of course our two sons inherited his love of sailing. Jerry was a dedicated swimmer. He spent his youth swimming and took many trophies and awards during his high school days and college years. In 1980 he joined the Masters Swimmers Group, competing in swimming events throughout the United States He swam every day and was in top physical condition. In 1994 he was diagnosted with an incurable leucemia and passed away in six short months. This was a divesting blow to me and my boys. I miss him and feel a void in my life; however I have managed to keep busy and involved inmany activities.

In 1986 when my boys started college I returned to work, working for Country Living Real Estate in Westport, CT. I enjoy the real estate field and have continued working a couple days a week.

I sold my home in 1996 and moved on a temporary basis to a wonderful cottage at my cousin's home in Scarsdale, New York.

My cousin an I were close friends in childhood days so we have many happy times visiting together recalling memories of our childhood days. Time has come to make a move to a permanent residence. After much consideration I decided to move back to Akron where I have family and friends. I am about to close on a condominium at Georgetown. I am excited about my move back to my roots and reliving my second childhood.

Life has been busy, challenging and enjoyable. I feel truly blessed. I must add that my four years at Old Trail gave me a foundation and appreciation of learning. I am grateful of those high school years. I particularly remember Miss. Ruth Courtney who taught me three years of Latin. Miss. Courtney was a mentor to me, always supportive and interested in me. Miss. Ann Burroughs gave me a love of biology which became my major in college. All the teachers took special interest an I can say I got a good education at Old Trail.

I look forward to the Class Reunion and remembering those days that seem like yesterday. Fifty years have passed so swiftly. What happy days they were!

Sincerely,

Mary Frances Dannemiller Jarrold