RITA BEIGEL RAUZIN
DENNIS RAUZIN
7630 S. Woodridge Drive
Parkland, Florida 33067
954-255-3050
Retired
My life is joyful and productive. After 2 years at Miami-Dade Community College, I attended the University of Bridgeport (Connecticut), earning a B.S. in Dental Hygiene Education. I then spent a year working in San Francisco as a dental hygienist, returning to Miami in 1970 to marry Dennis Rauzin (Miami High Class of '60) (Washington University Dental School '67) who, after 31 years, continues to be loving, encouraging, and supportive.
With Dennis supporting me, I created a 5-hour community dental health course for the Miami-Dade Dental Hygiene Program, which I taught for 3 years, continuing as well as a part-time hygienist in several dental offices until I finally achieved motherhood! Thank you, Dr. Neil Goodman (Gables Class of '62 and named by Good Housekeeping in March, 2002 and Ladies Home Journal in May, 2002 as one of the best fertility doctors in the U.S.) Our wonderful twins, Ivy and Joel, are now 23. Ivy graduated from the University of Florida with a Masters in Accounting on May 4, 2002 and has been hired as an auditor for Price Waterhouse Coopers. Joel continues to study Computer Science at UF and pursue his passion, Ñsaber fencing, of all things.
In 1980, my dental hygiene career veered toward entrepreneurism when a colleague and I developed Health Studies Institute, Inc., a continuing education provider for dental health professionals. After a few years of presenting seminars, HSI added home study to the curriculum, expanding nationwide, as well as catering to other Florida healthcare professionals. Today, I continue as Executive Director (taking a day off once a week to keep my hand in as a dental hygienist in Coconut Grove.) My husband joined the company in 1992 as President and CEO. He has enlarged the scope of HSI and brought us into the 21st Century technologically.
We moved both the company and our home to North Broward 4 years ago and have settled in comfortably. We have traveled throughout our marriage, seeing America first, even rafting in the Grand Canyon. Last fall, we ventured out of the US to explore France.
For the past 22 years, we have belonged to a gourmet group, meeting every couple of months to create dinners from around the world. Our group has just been chosen to be featured in the Feb/Mar 2003 issue of Cooking Pleasures magazine. My interest in reading burgeoned after college, but the seed was planted by my English teachers at Gables High. As a result, I'm an avid book club member. We're planning to attend the reunion. If you'd like to reconnect, let me hear from you at my email address.