Connie_Dupuis

Upon graduation from Sulphur High School, I attended
Northwestern University in Natchitoches. After two
years moved back to Sulphur and did secretarial work
in Lake Charles until I became engaged to my husband
(Jerry Romero, Marion High School, who I met at a
Teeners dance in 1955) and we married in Sulphur in
1962 then resided in Dallas for 2 years. We moved to
Slidell, Louisiana where we both went to work at the
NASA Computer Facility. Our first daughter, Monique,
was born there. We moved in 1965 to Houston, Texas
to join the NASA space program. I worked for Singer
Link-simulator support for the astronauts in training.
Jerry went to work for Lockheed, thus beginning his 28
year career of computer operation support for NASA.

After the birth of our second daughter, Denise, I was a
stay at home mom. In l974 I went to work for La Porte
Independent School District at the high school. This
was the perfect place for me as I was off when the
girls were off during the school year. I never dreamed I
would stay there for 22 years. As the administrative
secretary to the Vocational Director we designed and
furnished the new Career Center which is going strong
today for the high school students. Involvement with
my daughters activities at school and their extra
curricular activities was a plus.

Jerry retired from his NASA support career in 1994 and
began a second career with Southwest Airlines three
months later. Unbeknown to us, this was the best of
life’s surprises.

I retired in 1996 which set up the opportunity from my
being a retired secretary to a retiree career benefit of
staying at home and enjoying unlimited flight benefits
on Southwest Airlines. “Makes it so convenient to fly
to Las Vegas when the urge arises.” We traveled
extensively with the girls as they were growing up, but
the retirement travel is surely a nice benefit. We have
made several trips to Europe (France, England, Italy,
Germany, Holland, Austria, Switzerland and Poland)
and countless excursions throughout the United
States. This fall we fulfilled one of our travel dreams,
spending some 10 day touring Nova Scotia chasing our
Cajun heritage.

The main comment from our girls is to the effect:
“There is something wrong with this picture; Our
parents call us at midnight to inform us they are in
New York, St Louis, Las Vegas, etc. and here we are
having to get some sleep to go to work the next day.”

We reside in La Porte (Shoreacres), Texas for over 35
years –three blocks from Galveston Bay. We are both
involved with the Houston Livestock & Rodeo and
support the Ronald McDonald house in Galveston. I
love traveling, shopping,, playing cards with my ladies
card groups and enjoying life.

Jerry and I spend as much time as possible with our
two girls. Both are married and live in the Austin area.
We especially love spoiling the two granddaughters
and grandson.