Teen grew up in East Palestine, Ohio, a small town of 5,000 in eastern Ohio. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education, focusing on Health and Physical Education. Her teaching career started in Royal Oak, Michigan, and continued in the Cleveland area after marrying her husband, James. She, along with two others, started the elementary physical education program for the Parma City schools.
Teen has always maintained an active lifestyle, starting with playing intramural sports in high school and continuing after her marriage. She and her husband are avid golfers who enjoyed playing at many courses; however, fell in love with Avon Oaks Country Club and spent thirty- nine years enjoying that club.
At Avon Oaks, she was involved with many club activities including the women’s golf association. She served on many committees for both the club itself and the women’s association.
In 1987, Teen was asked to join the Cleveland Women’s Golf Association and served as president in 1997. During this time, she met Mary Ann Bierman while playing in tournaments. Through her, Teen became involved with the Ohio Girls’ Golf Foundation. Dominic Antenucci and Teen volunteered to co-chair the first benefit for the OGGF. Mary Ann then asked for Teen to join the board of directors and Teen continued to be the benefit chairperson until Mary Ann retired and Teen succeeded her as President in 2001.
OGGF offers a summer high school tournament with instruction before the tournament, scholarships, financial assistance, spring clinics and access to ongoing lessons.
Teen is humble and likes to say that she is not a great golfer in any sense, but she is a three-time winner of the Club Championship matches at Avon Oaks as well as winning a championship at their club in Florida. One accomplishment she is proud of was while playing in a pro-am she chipped out of the sand for birdies on three straight holes. She shares that her love of the game comes not from winning but just from playing.
In 2008 the Northern Ohio PGA Association honored Teen with the Legends of Golf Award for her contributions to golf. She feels that it is a privilege to be in the company of other awe- inspiring women who have also been recognized with this award.
Above all, Teen values her family and she thanks them for all their love and support. Additionally, she thanks all of the committee members, the volunteers, sponsors, and board of trustees who have all contributed to the success of this great organization.