You could say that my first job at Schaefer’s was in accounting. When I was about four Dad started bringing me to work with him on Sunday mornings. To keep me occupied he would give me piles of pennies to count and stack. He would set me atop one of the vinyl-seated chrome barstools where I could count and spin to my heart’s delight. This was my first and my fondest memory of our family business.

Dad eventually closed the bar in the mid 1940s and concentrated on developing the retail side of the business. The summers of my teenage years were spent working in the office, mailing statements to our thousands of house accounts. This was way before the days of bank cards. Working during the Christmas holidays was always my favorite time. I did all the gift wrapping. To this day I love wrapping gifts and am happily still considered Schaefer’s official bow maker.

During the early 1960s I enjoyed a number of jobs away from Schaefer’s, first as a photographic stylist then as a fashion coordinator and window display designer for Marshall Field's. In 1970 I returned to oversee the remodeling of our wine room. Over the next several years I became more active in the business and in 1977, the year our Mother died, I joined George as a full-time partner.

In 1964 I had married Jack Flynn, my best friend, an exceptional lawyer, and inveterate golfer. The following year we were blessed with the birth of our son. He followed in his Dad’s footsteps and is practicing law, and he and his wife gave us two grandchildren whom we adore.

When I’m not working I love to read, enjoy time in the kitchen, spend time with family and friends, and travel with Jack.

Over the years I’ve enjoyed sharing my time and energies with many organizations and groups. Today those that are closest to my heart are:

The Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center. They provide access to palliative care for people of any age if they face a serious, chronic or life-threatening illness, as well as support for their caregivers.

The North Shore Senior Center. Among the many social services it offers, it sponsors The House of Welcome, a daycare center for Alzheimer patients.

Wings. This is an organization that provides support and housing to battered and/or homeless women and children.