Marilyn Barrett: Completing the Circle

One of Marilyn Barrett’s favorite jobs was writing the jokes on McDonald’s Happy Meals.

The New Trier West alumna pursued a career in marketing and advertising after finishing her graduate degree in English literature from Mills College.

Earlier: Read more "You Did WHAT?" alumni profiles.

After high school, Marilyn had every intention of majoring in violin when she went to college. Circumstances led her away from music to consider majoring in Spanish and French. Instead, she took the advice of a wise counselor.

“She said, ‘Why don’t you major in English? You already speak it.’”

Marilyn was all set to teach English when she finished school but, at that time, there was a glut of newly minted teachers and jobs were scarce. So she returned to Chicago and landed a receptionist position at an ad agency.

What followed was inevitable.

She became an ad copywriter and worked on accounts such as Kellogg’s, United Airlines, and Citibank.

Eventually, Marilyn was promoted to creative director and oversaw others who were doing what she had done in the past. As the company expanded, Marilyn was sent to California to set up a San Francisco office for the Chicago-based agency. “We grew that office from 13 people to over 100 people in a couple years.”

Marilyn was in her element.

“I loved it. I like to take things that need some order out of the chaos and I like to identify people’s strong suits. I love to staff and find the right talent for the right thing.”

But everything runs its course. “I left working full-time about five years ago. I live in Chicago in the old Palmolive building, which was converted into condos.”

Now what?

“I can never just settle. I had to keep doing something. I don’t go out soliciting freelance work but I get a lot of calls from people I have worked with, so I get a lot of work.”

Now that she had “retired,” Marilyn needed to also try something new. A friend called her and told her that Columbia College was interested in hiring her. “I teach ‘Introduction to Advertising Copywriting’ at Columbia College-Chicago.”

Still thinking about the future, Marilyn has just a few ideas about what she would like to be doing next. “I have been teaching, something that I originally wanted to do, and it has come full circle. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing because I love it.”

Marilyn also loves to travel and has one special place where she feels the most at home. “I think San Sebastian, Spain, is the best place I have ever been. It is on the north coast of Spain near the French border. There is a soul in some places where you just connect. I’ve been to Spain three times and I am going back in January.”

Calling upon her philosophy minor in college, Marilyn concluded, “I really believe in circles in life. I don’t know if there is a God, but there is something, there is some kind of plan out there. If you put yourself out there, you are led to the places that are going to complete you.”

Reporter's note: I would like to add a personal note and bow before the Magnificence of Marilyn, who has led the way for this reunion. Looking at an unmanageable pool of 1,400 alumni from New Trier East and New Trier West, Marilyn has not stopped beating the drum for attendance. By bringing nearly 1,000 individuals together on the reunion website, no one knows how many people have been able to get back in touch with old friends. And all because Marilyn was hardheaded enough to see this thing through. We all owe her and her hardworking team huge thanks for a job extremely well done. Bravo, Marilyn, bravo!