Faces of Long Island celebrates the uniqueness of everyday Long Islanders. In their own words, they tell us about their life experiences, challenges and triumphs. Newsday launched this social media journey into the human experience to shine a light on the diverse people of this wonderful place we call home.

‘I got divorced, and I knew I had to get into this industry so I could help people never go through what I had to go through with someone narcissistic.’

Levittown

“After college, I was first a pharmaceutical rep. We learned about the human brain and narcissism. I was married at that time, with two young children. My mother had just died, and I came home that night, and I was praying, saying, ‘Mom, I know you didn’t believe in divorce, but my husband is narcissistic.’

“Then this dating service opened on Long Island. Once I saw it, it was like a sign from my mother in heaven. I got divorced, and I knew I had to get into this industry so I could help people never go through what I had to go through with someone narcissistic.

“Fifteen years ago, I opened up my own matchmaking services, and we’ve been growing strong ever since. Being positive is the most important key to success in finding love. I can’t teach that. I cannot make a negative person successful and I can’t make them positive. If that person is positive, I can work around any other nitty-gritty things to help them improve.

It means everything to me that Long Island singles entrust the most important thing in their lives to me. I truly fell in love with finding love for people. If you have love, you have everything.

“The best part is when they tell me they’re getting married. I have over 1,000 success stories. This one particular couple two years ago was always our favorite and they asked me if I would officiate their wedding. It means everything to me that Long Island singles entrust the most important thing in their lives to me. I truly fell in love with finding love for people. If you have love, you have everything.

“I’m seeing the greatest single men all the time. Many times, they’ll ask me if I’m single, but I’ll say I’m not ready yet. My life has always been my two children and my business. I never tried to be great at 10 different things, or even three different things. On my tombstone, I want it to say: great mother, great matchmaker. That’s all I want to be great at.”