PATRICIA "Pat" & DIANA "Dee Dee": Cruise Connection

Diana, whom I call Dee Dee (and I'm talking about Diana Pittaluga, not Diana Davis) and I have been friends since we were three years old, growing up three doors apart on the same street in Pico Rivera. Dee Dee's family moved to neighboring Downey the summer between eight and ninth grades, but our friendship endured.

"Dee Dee"

 

DeeDee has been a single mother for over 25 years, raising her three daughter in Lake Forest. She is a small business owner with her own Pool Cleaning & Pool Repairs business, which put all three daughters through college. The eldest is a pediatrician, one is a CPA and her youngest has chosen to follow in her mother's footsteps working side by side cleaning and repairing pools. She has four grandchildren ranging in age from two to eleven years. 

I'm the connection to Diana and Roger having worked for the City of Irvine in the Community Services Department for thirty years. The City was only three years old when I started, however Roger was our General Support Manager in this new City. Shortly thereafter, Diana worked as an intern for me for several months and she never left until she retired. While there, she met Roger, which is another story, that I'm not going to share, but you could ask them. 

"Pat" 

While in Irvine, I had an opportunity to work or supervise all the sections of the Department, ranging from Facilities Maintenance, to Community Parks, Aquatics & Athletics, Seniors, Teen Programing, the Fine Art Center, the Animal Care Center, etc., but I'm most proud of is my work in Park Planning and establishing the Park and Facilities Standards Manuel. 

After I retired from Irvine, I had the wonderful opportunity to work for the CEO of the Anaheim Ducks for two years on a part time status, which I've loved! Having never attended a hockey game I immediately fell in love with sport which was aided by the Ducks run and eventual win of the Stanley Cup in 2007, the first time the Cup came to California! The love for the sport and the Anaheim Ducks has spread to Dee Dee and other friends as I share my season tickets. We go to sports bars that hold Watch Party's when the Ducks are playing out of town. All in all we have become big FANS of not only the Ducks but the sport of hockey!!