Helen

About the Book

Helen Johnston Majercik was a Smith College graduate, Class of 1937, who led a long life. After graduating from Smith, Helen chauffeured her Aunt Anna on a cross-country auto trip with equally fun-loving relatives. Helen’s life was one that was lively and full of incident. She capped it in an unusual way: she enjoyed her life so much that she decided, in her last years, to write a book about it. Helen tells of becoming an x-ray technician in the early days of that specialty and of course she introduces her husband and other family members, such as her sisters, one whose nickname was Louse. Among her book’s highlights, though, are things like the description of her ‘career’ as a bridesmaid: she walked down the aisle no fewer than five times as an attendant, despairing at the end of ever being the bride. Helen did marry at age 42 and had one daughter at age 44. In a chapter to themselves are stories and anecdotes contributed to her book by more than a dozen of Helen’s friends who assisted her in many ways after her daughter died. The combined stories give the reader the secrets to a long and happy life.

About the Author

Joyce Patrick Morlin was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, taught school, became a librarian, then a corporate lawyer, with a specialization in patent law. After almost forty years of legal writing and patent prosecution, Joyce retired and now lives with her husband, Jonn, in Rockledge, Florida – next door to Helen Johnston Majercik’s home. Helen shared her life story with Joyce during their time as neighbors and friends. Helen was born in Binghamton, NY and lived in Rockledge for more than 50 years. She passed away on November 11, 2013, at the age of 98. The photo shows Joyce and Helen discussing one of the photo albums she prepared for her grandsons. Helen was 95 years old when she prepared two photo albums, one for each grandson. Ryan and Andrew (“Drew”) were the lights of her life.