Shelly Begun Reinisch

After A.B. Davis, I graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Human Ecology/Child Development. Move to Northern California and life in San Francisco Bay Area with spouse, Ron, son, Marc, and daughter, Florence (also a Cornell alumnus). Our first home was in Cupertino, before Silicon Valley- when it was apricot orchards.  Loved being a stay-at-home Mom, raising the children, and being a Californian. MS degree in Counseling Psychology from San Jose State University. I wanted a career also. So, attended San Jose State Univ. part-time. By the time I received MS degree, I did not find a reality match with most jobs in the field.  Suburban Denver, Colorado  In any case, Ron changed jobs and career from 17 years at NASA in the Kennedy Space program as material scientist- switched to Solar Energy Entrepreneur in Colorado. Again a Northern Californian.  Ron took a job in high tech at Seagate and we moved happily to Santa Cruz in 1988. Have not taken up surfing, but we enjoy our miles of beautiful beaches and the laid-back lifestyle. One of 26 who ran for U.S. Congress in Special Election (no primary) when Leon Panetta became OMB Director for the Clinton Administration. One day I read a short article in the “Santa Cruz Sentinel” announcing the growing frenzy of 17 people running for Congress. Why not? I joined, got the required number of signatures and quickly developed a conviction on every forum topic. I wrote and mailed my own Newsletters and really enjoyed the political process. Paralegal Certificate from Community College and work as Legal Assistant for firm specializing in Intellectual Property Litigation. Only if Legal work had been my first and only career. Now would like to use dual experience as a homebuilder and paralegal to work in Construction Defect Litigation. Instead will just enjoy living in new home in a Natural Habitat with a Bay view and entertaining visits from the Chicago grandchildren- Eliza and Joe- and Berkeley grandchildren- Harry and Leo, son Marc (a commercial real estate developer) and Daughter Florence (Public Health Research Scientist).