Choices Resource Guide

CHOICES’ Jeanette Limoli

A Story of Redemption

Jeanette Limoli is “anything but a wimp.” Limoli was born in Cleveland and raised in Hackensack, New Jersey. However, because her father was serving in the U.S. Navy, Limoli and her five siblings constantly moved back and forth between the Garden State and the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. As an adult, and despite having a lucrative job in the medical field, Limoli was excessively partying and frequently getting sentenced to prison for drug-related crimes. “As a Sicilian who grew up in a Sicilian community, I was exposed early to fast city life,” Limoli said. “I found myself getting into trouble. I’m a recovering alcoholic and an ex-felon. When freed on parole, I was struggling and knew I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. So, I quit the medical field altogether and decided to take a low-paying job at Dunkin’ Donuts. One day, I was talking with a friend of mine and she also said that I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be and urged me to return to school. So, I thought about it and enrolled at

Columbus State Community College, where I received my associate’s degree in addiction and mental health studies.”

32