Catherine Antolino Mervyn, 94 years old, is a native Italian who immigrated to America at the age of thirteen. She served in the U.S. Military for two years during WWII as a WAC, and then in the Army and Airforce. Mrs. Mervyn received a B.S. degree in Education from Ohio State University and an M.A. degree in Education from California Lutheran University. She taught in elementary schools in Ohio, New Mexico, and California.  Her students are the inspiration for all her children's books .