Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020 EVERETT WOMEN'S HISTORY HONOREES Maryann Cocca-Leffler “Turned childhood memories into a career” Maryann Cocca-Leffl er grew up experiencing what many would call the typical Everett life. Like many Everett kids of the 1960’s, she found joy and lifelong memories in the little things of life. Mom’s cooking, family vacations, trips into Boston and hours spent just doodling on paper may not sound like much to this generation, but it was from these memories and activities that Maryann molded a successful career. Born in Everett, Maryann loved school and drawing – mostly drawing. However, her drawing wasn’t just something to do. Almost from the beginning, it was an expression of her life, her environment and her dreams. It was an extension of what she saw, felt and experienced. She knew very early that she wanted to be an artist, and those around her recognized her talent from a young age. After attending St. Anthony’s School in Everett, Maryann attended Parlin Jr. High for 9th grade and then Everett High School, graduating in 1976. When it came time to pick a college, she applied to the Massachusetts College of Art & Design and was accepted. While her family was totally supportive and proud of her artistic talents, like most Everett parents would, they worried how an art degree could possibly lead to a solid occupation. At MassArt, Maryann majored in illustration. While many of her classmates moved toward editorial illustration, Maryann, instead, was passionate about children’s book publishing, and her bright, cheerful style clearly pointed in that direction. A month before she graduated, she signed a contract to illustrate her fi rst children’s book, “Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’” (written by Eileen Spinelli, Harper & Row). First published in 1982, this book is still in print as of 2018. While searching for her next book, Maryann Cocca-Leffl er Maryann worked as a freelance illustrator, taking on any job that came her way, including illustrating for The Boston Globe and Parent’s Magazine as well as many textbook publishers. For a brief time, she even worked for a defense contractor drawing missiles, but working in that technical illustration job convinced her she needed to focus on her goal to illustrate exclusively in children’s books. During this time, Maryann married Eric Leffl er, also of Everett. On their return from their honeymoon, they played their new phone number in the lottery – and it came out! They took their winnings of $3,500.00 and started their own greeting card company. They worked in the greeting card industry for fi ve years, with Maryann creating the card designs and Eric handling the business, before selling their line to a company in Arizona. The detour into greeting cards helped establish a path back into children’s books, as her engaging greeting card characters caught the eye of New York editors and art directors. Since that time, Maryann has focused almost exclusively on writing and illustrating children’s books and has published over 60 books, working with most major publishers in NYC and Chicago. Most of her book ideas come from her own life experiences growing up in a close Italian family, as well as the childhood of her daughters, Janine and Kristin, who have inspired many book ideas throughout the years The fi rst book she both wrote and illustrated was "Wednesday Is Spaghetti Day” (Scholastic, 1990) – inspired by her Italian heritage and her family’s love of food. Her quintessential Everett book, “Bus Route to Boston” (Boyds Mills Press, 2000), is a story of her memories of riding “the 111” from Woodlawn to Haymarket for a day in Boston with her mother and sister. While commuters today may gripe about the trip, Maryann saw it through the eyes of child as a precious memory that includes shopping for clothing at Filene’s Basement, meats and cheese in the North End and produce at Haymarket, endCOCCA-LEFFLER | SEE PAGE 23 SKATING CENTER www.Roller-World.com | 781-231-1111 ATM on site Sunday Located Adjacent to Rite Aid Pharmacy in Saugus Plaza, South Bound Route 1 MBTA Bus Route 429 FREE WI-FI - 2 WIDE SCREEN TV’S FULLY AIR CONDITIONED WINTER SKATING SCHEDULE ATTENTION! 12-8 p.m. $7.50 Monday Private Parties Tuesday School & PTO GROUPS 7:30-10:30 p.m. Adult Night 18+ only $8.50 Wednesday Private Parties Thursday Private Parties 3-11 p.m. $7.50 Friday Saturday Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 12-11 p.m. $7.50 Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 Skates included in price/Blades $3 Bowling Alleys, 2 snack bars, video games. School Vacation Weeks 12-8 p.m. Admission $7.50 Win a trip for 2 to Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel Jet Blue Air 5 days / 4 nights Your school PTO can for your group. Call for details. BIRTHDAY PARTIES $11.50/Person, min. of 10 kids. Price includes Adm. + Roller Skates. Cake, soda, paper goods, 20 tokens for birthday person plus 100 Redemption Tickets and a gift from Roller World in one of our private BP Rooms.
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