Sharing Memories With Educator Diana Cotter
By Marcie Bolton
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Diana Cotter is a former educator, who originally came to Vermont in 1959 to attend Middlebury College. During her junior year, she remembers a spectacular autumn day vividly, standing on the 4th floor of the Pearson’s building looking out on an October morning over the Green mountains, wishing she could live here forever. Diana left following graduation to Los Angeles. She taught primary education for 50 years, and was a curriculum designer for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She worked in The Support Network helping teachers become nationally board certified.
Diana’s wish to live once again in Vermont came true six years ago. She is an East Middlebury resident, who moved back to Vermont because of autumn, Middlebury College hockey and winter.... and how happy was she that now there is women’s hockey.
This interview style used by leading professionals often times reveals much about the subject.
We asked her what her favorite virtue was? She replied, integrity because it is right there with honesty... I don’t want to be around people if they are not honest. I don’t like cheating.
What are your favorite qualities in a person?.Same thing- someone who has a clear sense of who they are and is comfortable in their own skin. A reason I like Vermont so much is because people are down to earth. Vermonters are who they are. There is not a lot of pretense; like in west L.A. there is a lot of that.What is your chief characteristic? I’m very honest. Not aggressively so but assertive. It took me a long time to learn who I was and to articulate that. I am 70 years old …you live a long time and you whittle it down to what you find important.
What you appreciate the most in your friends? I love a sense of humor and an ability to enjoy themselves and enjoy life. And again, I want them to be people of integrity. What is your main fault? I am Impatient. Things annoy me. People’s characteristics annoy me and I have to work on that. Don’t say you are going do something and then don’t. Think of what a world this would be if people did 70% of what they said.
What is your idea of happiness? Living in Vermont in my house ...looking out into the fields and across the ridge. After hurricaine Irene it has been gratifying how many people have stepped up and helped each other....college teams came back to Middlebury early to go to over the hill to Hancock and Rochester. That is as it should be, there shouldn’t be any kudos
What is your idea of misery? Being in constant pain or having a catastrophic illness.
If not yourself, who would you be? I am so happy at 70 being who I am in my life... every once in a while I wish I could go back and do different portions of life.
Favorite color? Red
What is your favorite bird? The wren. Nasty little brown things, they won’t nest in my yard. But I love their song.
Who is your favorite poet? Robert Frost. I love him. Who could not?
Who are your favorite composers? Mozart and Beethoven.
Who are your heroes in real life? Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. They were what was needed to confront real evil in the world. My modern hero is Jimmy Carter. He is like the Energizer Bunny. I don’t always agree with him, but I like that he is always trying to do well.
Who are your favorite heroines in real life? Rather than individuals I am attracted to women who making a difference. Madeline Albright, Hillary Clinton. Ginsberg, and women on the supreme court. Barbara Walters. People who make a difference.
What characters in history do you most dislike? Adolph Hitler, Ghaddafi.
What is your favorite food? Drink? Chocolate chip cookies and milk.
What are your favorite names? Margaret... I had to grow into Diana..Michael, Patrick. I am only an eighth Irish.
What do you hate the most? Hot muggy weather..I hate Florida. Yucko.
What natural talent would you like to be gifted with? Singing... I sing but not well...I sing hymns in church
How do you wish to die? Oh gosh I think like everybody does; to go to sleep one night and not wake up. Not for about 30 years though.
What is your present state of mind? Very happy and relaxed...just enjoying my life.
What is your favorite motto? "We have it in our power to begin the world over again." Thomas Paine