One day in January 1970, then-Oxford resident Cathy Kowalski decided she needed to find a job.
‘I started at the end of (Washington Street) and was going to go into each business,? she said.
The first business she entered was Sherman Publications, Inc. (The Oxford Leader). As luck would have it, the business was hiring and Kowalski not only found a job, she found a home and family for more than three decades.
After 34 years of designing and laying out newspaper advertisements, Kowalski hung up her scissors and retired March 31.
‘It’s been pretty darn good,? she said of her career with SPI. ‘The Shermans have been great to work for. They’ve been extremely good to me.?
Over the years, Kowalski has seen a lot of changes to the newspaper business.
‘When I started it was all cutting and pasting. You had to set each letter. Everything was done by hand,? she said. ‘Now everything is done on the computer.?
When computers were first introduced, Kowalski said she ‘shied away from them until we were forced to use them.?
‘I was scared of them,? she said. ‘But eventually I learned.?
Kowalski said her ‘favorite part? of working for SPI was when she was personally and solely responsible for laying out all the ads in The Clarkston News and Penny Stretcher.
‘I took pride in making everything straight and neat,? she said. ‘It was a job I could do from beginning to end myself. If an error was made, I knew I did it and where to correct myself.?
Other than when she went on maternity leave, the only time Kolwalski left SPI was for a few weeks 15 years ago.
Tired of the constant standing involved with her job, Kowalski quit and took an accounting position. But after two weeks, she returned to SPI.
‘I missed the newspaper,? she said. ‘It gets in your blood. It really does.?
Now that she’s retired, Kowalski, who lives in Metamora, and her husband of 37 years, Gabe, plan to move to Pennsylvania to be closer to their children, Jim Kowalski and Steve and Jennifer Gude, and their grandchildren, 9-year-old Nicholas and 6-year-old Jillian.
‘I miss them a lot,? she said. ‘It’s hard to be so far away from them.?
We at Sherman Publications would like to wish Cathy Kowalski well. We’re all sad to see her leave, but we’re proud to have known and worked with her. She is a consumate professional and a good person. Enjoy your retirement Cathy, you’ve certainly earned it.