Mary DeCesaro Cameron was honored in July of 2019 as the recipient of the Upper Arlington Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. This award recognizes someone who has generously donated his or her time to the Alumni Association and its mission — and Mary has done that. She served on the UAAA board for 13 years and still offers support by volunteering on committees and chairing her class reunions. She celebrated her 40th class reunion this past summer.

Notable achievements at Upper Arlington High School

I was the fourth DeCesaro sibling to be at UAHS. I wasn’t an artist like my sister Patti, or a skilled carpenter like my brother Mike or the 1975 homecoming queen like my sister Linda, but I embraced my superpower of bringing people together whenever I could. I belonged to GAA, pep club for all the sports, French club and Spanish club. I attended any event where I could support and cheer my school and 1979 classmates on whether it be an In the Know taping or a swim meet. I was someone who you could count on to lend a hand of support or cheer you on no matter what. I was an average student, but I think most teachers would remember me as someone who participated and cared, especially in situations where I could advocate for the underdog.

My dad got transferred to Middletown, Ohio, the summer before my senior year, and I was devastated. Mr. Shelby was the principal at the time and worked out an agreement with the principal of Middletown High School so that I could complete my remaining high school graduation requirements and still graduate with my class at UAHS. In Middletown, I chose to take only the classes required at the high school and then began my college studies while I was still a senior in high school at the Middletown branch of Miami University.

College / career experiences

I transferred from Miami University to The Ohio State University after working full time for a year. I majored in elementary education and graduated in 1986. I worked as a substitute teacher for all the local school districts as well as working evenings at Lazarus Kingsdale for three years.

I received a job offer from Great-West Life in Colorado through a connection of my dad's in 1989 and moved for the first time to Colorado to be closer to my parents, who had relocated there in 1987.

I returned to Ohio a year later because I still wanted to teach elementary school. That wasn't in the cards, so I worked in multiple industries, including owning my own event planning business until 1994 when we returned to Colorado so my 2 year old could receive care for his severe asthma at National Jewish Hospital in Colorado. I was rehired by Great-West Life and stayed with them as an associate manager of training and development until 2002, when we relocated the family back to Upper Arlington so our children could benefit from the Upper Arlington school district. I worked in the human resources department at Ohio Health from 2002 to 2005 when the vice president at Great-West Retirement Services - Government Markets division called me and said, “It took us 3 years but we finally have a position to offer you here in Columbus, Ohio, so please come back to Great-West.” I have been with them ever since. The parent company is Great-West Life, but I work for the Empower Retirement segment. I hold my Series 6 and 63 license and provide operations support to the CCAO Deferred Compensation Plan and the eight retirement plan advisers who service all 88 counties in the state of Ohio.

How did UA Schools prepare you for success?

My foundation at St. Agatha, Jones Junior High and Upper Arlington High School was second to none.  The greatest way UA schools prepared me for success was to teach me that it is important to try new things and figure out what makes you happy. While you are on your journey, it boils down to the trust and relationships you build and maintain - whether you are 15 years old or 58 years old.

Even though I wasn't a class officer at UAHS, I volunteered and took over the reunion planning for the Class of 1979 in 2002. It is one of my greatest joys in life to bring us all together every five years. Go Bears! Golden Bears forever.

Being a parent is my most important and chosen role, and it was a dream come true to have my children also graduate from UAHS - Nick Cameron (UAHS Class of 2010) and Ashley Cameron (UAHS Class of 2014).