TOUCHSTONE COHOUSING
"With Cohousing, neighborliness comes with the house." Ann Arbor News
Brief biographies of our people
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Betsy moved to Ann Arbor from a New York City suburb in summer 2006 after retiring from a career teaching English as a Second Language to college students and adults. She chose Ann Arbor for its lively cultural scene and its nearness to family. She chose Touchstone Cohousing in order to be part of a mutually supportive community. Betsy enjoys reading, eating out, watching birds and deer from her new deck, Elderhostels and good conversation.
Jeremiah is a full-time father of three young children, a handyman, and a game-player. He and his wife Keleigh moved to Touchstone, after living just outside of Ann Arbor, because they fell in love with the community, and the opportunity for their children to connect with other children and adults outside of a structured setting. Jeremiah enjoys playing games (board games, role-playing games, sports), playing guitar, and cooking Saturday brunches. In the fall of 2007 he cut two giant holes in the roof of his home to add two dormer rooms while finishing his second story.
A retired teacher, Lyn’s career led her to positions in Colorado, Germany (Department of Defense) and Livonia, Michigan. She graduated from MSU (shh!) and has a Master's from the University of Oregon and one from the Center for Humanistic Studies in Detroit. After she retired she moved west, spending five years in Washington State and four in Colorado before returning to Michigan. She enjoys knitting, weaving, photography, reading, writing, puzzles of all kinds and paper crafting. Here at Touchstone she keeps the books for the Meals program and helps with the process for dividing up the community work.
Jack is a widower who was married to a wonderful woman for 37 years. His career in public relations with global corporations and Michigan DOT spanned 27 years in Michigan, northern California and Houston. He has been a trainer, speaker and business coach for nearly 20 years in Lansing in his own business. For info, click here. Currently he is working on building yet another business. His interests are reading (especially science fiction and spiritual books - now there's a combination, eh?), cooking, camping, board games, home remodeling and living a nonjudgmental, spiritual life.
Julie was born in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English and a minor in Spanish. She has worked as a bookkeeper and receptionist/secretary. She takes pride in her ability to relate to people and to listen when they need someone to hear. She has been blessed with two fine daughters who have taught her the importance of compassion, patience and loving kindness. These are qualities that drew her to co-housing. She wanted to experience a living arrangement where people would feel accepted, valued and understood in a caring community. While she thinks this is still a work in progress, many strides have been made toward this reality. She looks forward to sharing this lifestyle with future Touchstone members, while continuing to grow an even stronger bond with her current neighbors. In many ways, she thinks of them as family, and she is grateful for their presence in her life.
Gretchen is a single mom of two grown sons in college. After living in Ann Arbor for 14 years and following a divorce, she was happy to become part of the extended family and community of Touchstone. Gretchen has worked as a Lutheran minister the past 27 years and loves her current position at the church she's served since 2002. She also enjoys reading and participating in a women's book group, going out to dinner and the movies, working out at the Y and spending time with family and friends.
Stan and Rusty are retired middle school teachers. They were attracted to Touchstone for the opportunity to become part of an old-fashioned community. Together, Stan and Rusty love scuba diving, travel and their German shepherd Zeus.
He is interested in gardening, music, photography, trains, science, and learning new things.
Rusty tutors privately, substitute teaches
and volunteers many hours with Therapeutic Riding, Inc. She is also on the board of the Northfield Township Historical Society. A life-long “horse crazy,” she continues to ride and seek out equine opportunities. She enjoys reading, cooking, and is a self-confessed news “junkie.”
Are you surprised that a clown is living at Touchstone? Firefly the Magic Clown is 10 years old (though her alter ego is much older.) She once was a lost little firefly and became a grown up magic clown with the help of her special wooden friend Friendly Freddy. Firefly loves doing magic shows, especially for children. She involves kids by using their names as the special words to make the magic happen. She likes to hear the children say: “O-o-o, how did you do that?” Adults love to watch Firefly’s magic, but children love her most of all. She is available to perform at schools, camps, outdoor programs and other events. You can reach Firefly through her roommate Lois at lmzim@hotmail.com.
Robin is a psychotherapist in private practice and her life focus is on her spiritual path. She grew up in Great Britain where she enjoyed living in small villages. She also lived in a spiritual ashram and in a hotel, so living in cohousing is a natural step for her. She is often seen taking walks along the tree line with her cats. She says that living in cohousing is the perfect balance of interaction and quiet solitude.
Diane is the Mom in Unit #1. She and her husband, Chester, have been graced with four children. They moved to Touchstone from north of Lansing because they wanted to live in co-housing and their daughter, Emily, was finishing her degree at U of M. They have 3 sons...Luke and his wife live in Oregon and he'll be graduating from Oregon State in "08." Simon attends the local community college with an interest in architecture and such. Cameron continues to study independently; they have always embraced homeschooling and living in co-housing is a natural fit to live and function in community. Since her homeschooling days are winding down Diane is delightfully employed as a nurse working in a nearby hospice and Chester works in the U of M Blood Bank. They are both often seen trouping home in the morning hours since they work the midnight shift. “After enjoying living over 20 years in the Lansing area, the relocation to Ann Arbor and Touchstone Cohousing has been a very unique and positive experience for the entire family,” says Diane.
Emily is a 2006 graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.M. in Violin Performance. Soon after graduation, she set off to hike the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Since arriving back from her life changing hike, she works part time doing childcare while preparing for graduate school to start in the fall of 2008. Interests include: personal health, the environment, educating others and playing cards.
Susie has lived in Ann Arbor for 35 years and has been part of Touchstone Cohousing almost from its beginning. Susie works as editor and publisher of the Washtenaw Jewish News. She is very active in the local Jewish community. She loves gardening, baking, relaxing in the sun with a good book, traveling abroad (most recently Thailand, Costa Rica and Ecuador), entertaining friends, playing piano, photography (see SusanAyerPhotography.com), biking, and yoga. Her 3 grown children, Dan, Liz and Ben, live in New York, Oregon, and Kalamazoo. Susie loves living in our multi-generational community. Her cow Betsy (fiberglass, life-size) and toy-filled basement are a big hit with the kids.
After hav
ing lived in NewYork, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana, Lois chose Touchstone Cohousing in Michigan as her new home. In her journeying years, she grew up, became a teacher, married a minister, had five children, and now is happily retired. As a busy volunteer, she is Firefly, a Magic Clown, who does shows for children and adults, and tutors in two local schools. Living in cohousing is a great adventure with many opportunities to work and play with her friends of all ages. In addition, she travels to visit family and to discover new places around the world. “It’s a great life.”
Tom is the devoted husband to his beautiful wife, Maggie, and father to the best part of his life, his daughter, Ivy. As an avid puzzler, gardener, and health nut, he provides entertainment to his neighbors, grows flowers, and encourages healthy life styles. In his spare time, he manages his consulting business, Smart Networks Corporation, and provides software and business process integration services to clients across the country.
Kristen is the wife of Brian and mom to Lohan (1-1/2) and Gaelen (3-1/2). She loves gardening and working on seeing how much can grow in the community gardens. Kristen loves learning how little boys “work” and watching them grow in many ways. She works part-time at the University of Michigan hospital in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Lohan loves to read and run around after his big brother.
Gaelen loves playing with the neighborhood kids and making caves to play in. He also loves snacks and desserts.
Back to Our People
Betsy moved to Ann Arbor from a New York City suburb in summer 2006 after retiring from a career teaching English as a Second Language to college students and adults. She chose Ann Arbor for its lively cultural scene and its nearness to family. She chose Touchstone Cohousing in order to be part of a mutually supportive community. Betsy enjoys reading, eating out, watching birds and deer from her new deck, Elderhostels and good conversation.Jeremiah is a full-time father of three young children, a handyman, and a game-player. He and his wife Keleigh moved to Touchstone, after living just outside of Ann Arbor, because they fell in love with the community, and the opportunity for their children to connect with other children and adults outside of a structured setting. Jeremiah enjoys playing games (board games, role-playing games, sports), playing guitar, and cooking Saturday brunches. In the fall of 2007 he cut two giant holes in the roof of his home to add two dormer rooms while finishing his second story. A retired teacher, Lyn’s career led her to positions in Colorado, Germany (Department of Defense) and Livonia, Michigan. She graduated from MSU (shh!) and has a Master's from the University of Oregon and one from the Center for Humanistic Studies in Detroit. After she retired she moved west, spending five years in Washington State and four in Colorado before returning to Michigan. She enjoys knitting, weaving, photography, reading, writing, puzzles of all kinds and paper crafting. Here at Touchstone she keeps the books for the Meals program and helps with the process for dividing up the community work.
Jack is a widower who was married to a wonderful woman for 37 years. His career in public relations with global corporations and Michigan DOT spanned 27 years in Michigan, northern California and Houston. He has been a trainer, speaker and business coach for nearly 20 years in Lansing in his own business. For info, click here. Currently he is working on building yet another business. His interests are reading (especially science fiction and spiritual books - now there's a combination, eh?), cooking, camping, board games, home remodeling and living a nonjudgmental, spiritual life.Julie was born in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English and a minor in Spanish. She has worked as a bookkeeper and receptionist/secretary. She takes pride in her ability to relate to people and to listen when they need someone to hear. She has been blessed with two fine daughters who have taught her the importance of compassion, patience and loving kindness. These are qualities that drew her to co-housing. She wanted to experience a living arrangement where people would feel accepted, valued and understood in a caring community. While she thinks this is still a work in progress, many strides have been made toward this reality. She looks forward to sharing this lifestyle with future Touchstone members, while continuing to grow an even stronger bond with her current neighbors. In many ways, she thinks of them as family, and she is grateful for their presence in her life. Gretchen is a single mom of two grown sons in college. After living in Ann Arbor for 14 years and following a divorce, she was happy to become part of the extended family and community of Touchstone. Gretchen has worked as a Lutheran minister the past 27 years and loves her current position at the church she's served since 2002. She also enjoys reading and participating in a women's book group, going out to dinner and the movies, working out at the Y and spending time with family and friends.Stan and Rusty are retired middle school teachers. They were attracted to Touchstone for the opportunity to become part of an old-fashioned community. Together, Stan and Rusty love scuba diving, travel and their German shepherd Zeus.He is interested in gardening, music, photography, trains, science, and learning new things.
Rusty tutors privately, substitute teaches
and volunteers many hours with Therapeutic Riding, Inc. She is also on the board of the Northfield Township Historical Society. A life-long “horse crazy,” she continues to ride and seek out equine opportunities. She enjoys reading, cooking, and is a self-confessed news “junkie.”
Are you surprised that a clown is living at Touchstone? Firefly the Magic Clown is 10 years old (though her alter ego is much older.) She once was a lost little firefly and became a grown up magic clown with the help of her special wooden friend Friendly Freddy. Firefly loves doing magic shows, especially for children. She involves kids by using their names as the special words to make the magic happen. She likes to hear the children say: “O-o-o, how did you do that?” Adults love to watch Firefly’s magic, but children love her most of all. She is available to perform at schools, camps, outdoor programs and other events. You can reach Firefly through her roommate Lois at lmzim@hotmail.com.Robin is a psychotherapist in private practice and her life focus is on her spiritual path. She grew up in Great Britain where she enjoyed living in small villages. She also lived in a spiritual ashram and in a hotel, so living in cohousing is a natural step for her. She is often seen taking walks along the tree line with her cats. She says that living in cohousing is the perfect balance of interaction and quiet solitude.Diane is the Mom in Unit #1. She and her husband, Chester, have been graced with four children. They moved to Touchstone from north of Lansing because they wanted to live in co-housing and their daughter, Emily, was finishing her degree at U of M. They have 3 sons...Luke and his wife live in Oregon and he'll be graduating from Oregon State in "08." Simon attends the local community college with an interest in architecture and such. Cameron continues to study independently; they have always embraced homeschooling and living in co-housing is a natural fit to live and function in community. Since her homeschooling days are winding down Diane is delightfully employed as a nurse working in a nearby hospice and Chester works in the U of M Blood Bank. They are both often seen trouping home in the morning hours since they work the midnight shift. “After enjoying living over 20 years in the Lansing area, the relocation to Ann Arbor and Touchstone Cohousing has been a very unique and positive experience for the entire family,” says Diane.Emily is a 2006 graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.M. in Violin Performance. Soon after graduation, she set off to hike the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Since arriving back from her life changing hike, she works part time doing childcare while preparing for graduate school to start in the fall of 2008. Interests include: personal health, the environment, educating others and playing cards.
Susie has lived in Ann Arbor for 35 years and has been part of Touchstone Cohousing almost from its beginning. Susie works as editor and publisher of the Washtenaw Jewish News. She is very active in the local Jewish community. She loves gardening, baking, relaxing in the sun with a good book, traveling abroad (most recently Thailand, Costa Rica and Ecuador), entertaining friends, playing piano, photography (see SusanAyerPhotography.com), biking, and yoga. Her 3 grown children, Dan, Liz and Ben, live in New York, Oregon, and Kalamazoo. Susie loves living in our multi-generational community. Her cow Betsy (fiberglass, life-size) and toy-filled basement are a big hit with the kids.After hav
ing lived in NewYork, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana, Lois chose Touchstone Cohousing in Michigan as her new home. In her journeying years, she grew up, became a teacher, married a minister, had five children, and now is happily retired. As a busy volunteer, she is Firefly, a Magic Clown, who does shows for children and adults, and tutors in two local schools. Living in cohousing is a great adventure with many opportunities to work and play with her friends of all ages. In addition, she travels to visit family and to discover new places around the world. “It’s a great life.”Tom is the devoted husband to his beautiful wife, Maggie, and father to the best part of his life, his daughter, Ivy. As an avid puzzler, gardener, and health nut, he provides entertainment to his neighbors, grows flowers, and encourages healthy life styles. In his spare time, he manages his consulting business, Smart Networks Corporation, and provides software and business process integration services to clients across the country.Kristen is the wife of Brian and mom to Lohan (1-1/2) and Gaelen (3-1/2). She loves gardening and working on seeing how much can grow in the community gardens. Kristen loves learning how little boys “work” and watching them grow in many ways. She works part-time at the University of Michigan hospital in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Lohan loves to read and run around after his big brother.Gaelen loves playing with the neighborhood kids and making caves to play in. He also loves snacks and desserts.
Back to Our People
