Lynn-Ann's Story

I come from a very conservative Catholic family and attended Bay Path Junior College in mid-1970. It was a two-year college at the time. Like so many first-generation students today, I was the first person in my family to attend college, and it took an entire Italian Village to get me to this point in my life. My parents and grandparents were firmly committed to my attending Bay Path, as it was an all-girls college and only 30 minutes from my home in Wethersfield, CT.

When I attended, it was primarily a secretarial college. The professors, specifically Dean Wright, emphasized that Bay Path could be a terrific stepping stone into another university and career. She was instrumental in saying, "No. This isn't the end. This is the beginning of your education." This was the best advice and encouragement that I could have received, as a four-year institution was nothing my family supported.

After succeeding at Bay Path, I attended American University in D.C., where I graduated with a degree in Economics. This would not have been possible without my first step - attending Bay Path College. It proved to be a good experience for me.

I then embarked on a very successful 35-year career as a Commercial Property Manager/Asset Manager. I have had the distinction of being employed by some of the largest real estate firms in the country. After an amazing career, where my average portfolio ran in excess of 2.5 million square feet, I happily retired from my position as a Commercial Property Manager in South Florida.

Hard work and family values have provided me with the ability to retire very comfortably. My financial advisor asked me to name a beneficiary of my estate, and since I have no children, I felt that the estate should honor the legacy of my family and all of the hard work they endured to ensure I was safe. As a result, I have established the Ierna Family Trust and named Bay Path University as its sole beneficiary.

I felt it was important that my parents, especially my father, Carmen Ierna, have the legacy he deserves. He was the best "girl dad" ever. The Ierna Family '76 Endowed Building and Maintenance Fund will benefit and enrich many young ladies, ensuring their safety in clean, secure structures - all in the heart of New England.