I was born on June 5, 1945, in Abington, Pennsylvania. I was placed for adoption and at the age of six weeks I was adopted by Vincent and Lucille Iaquinto. My father was a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Navy and my mother was a housewife. My name was changed from David William Fell to Thomas Vincent Iaquinto. I was named after my grandfather and father.
I spent the first few years of my life in Trenton, New Jersey where my father's family lived. In 1950 we moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where my father had been transferred. In 1951 we moved into the house that I grew up in. I started first grade at Southside Grammar Elementary School. I was a student there until half-way through second grade. My father was transferred to Norfolk, Virginia. I was enrolled in James Madison Elementary School for the remainder of the second grade and all third grade. My father received orders back to Jacksonville and we returned to our home and I started fourth grade at Southside Grammar. My earliest recollection of starting to feel different started during the fourth grade. I wasn't sure what was up, I just knew I felt different.
During this year my mother converted to the Catholic faith and I was to start my Catholic education when it was time to begin the fifth grade. I attended School of the Assumption through the eighth grade. I was in the choir and an altar-server. While at Assumption the first effects of Gender Dysphoria began. In the late 50's Gender Dysphoria, commonly known as Transsexualism, was not a topic discussed at the dinner table.
After I graduated from Assumption I went to Landon Jr.-Sr. High School. I attended Landon from my freshman through junior year. I did everything to prove I was male. I participated in sports, I was miserable. I had two dates while in high school. I was called names, because I acted different.
We moved to Jacksonville Beach during the summer before my senior year. Although the School Board had granted me permission to attend Landon during my senior year the distance and lack of reliable public transportation made that impractical. I started my senior year at Duncan U. Fletcher at Jacksonville Beach. I tried to fit in, but Gender Dysphoria kept popping up it's ugly head. I was miserable and each night I prayed God would make me a girl. I wanted this more than anything.
I was not happy at my new school and was having typical teenage problems with my parents. I joined the U.S. Navy and left my parent's home on December 30, 1963 to go to boot camp. So ends this chapter in my life.
Copyright 1998 by Denise Anne Fell© updated April 14, 2001