Jane and Lance retired in 2019 and have loved cruising since. Why? What is there not to like? Three meals a day. Friendly fellow travelers. Genuinely happy crew. Adventures at each port. And best of all, non-stop entertainment. So, when it came time for them to leave their Pasadena home and move to a retirement community, Ventura Townehouse was an obvious choice. Cruising on Land!
They’ve been married 62 years. Jane was just 19, in her first year of college, and Lance had finished five years in architecture school. A year later, with graduation behind him, they drove to Philadelphia to start their new life, Lance working for architecture and city planning “stars” and Jane working for the University of Pennsylvania archivist. By 1968 they had a son and daughter and by 1980, had followed job opportunities, living in LA, Denver, Houston, and Washington DC. Jane was “mom” raising kids, leading volunteer arts programs in their communities and children’s schools, teaching cooking, and in Washington, active in the Hospitality Information Service (a “welcome wagon” for embassies) for the Carter Administration. They returned to LA and lived in the Pasadena area for 45 years.
Lance founded his own architecture firm in 1981, La Canada Design Group. What kind of projects? Institutions, churches, healthcare, education, everything but homes. Why not homes? He often says “I didn’t want to be a marriage counselor.” He served on several professional boards and non-profits. The most rewarding experience was serving on the American Institute of Architects national board.
Jane always liked shopping – the more exotic the better. And she loved traveling. When their children graduated from high school, no surprise, Jane started her firm, Design Imports. She became an importer, initially importing art and jewelry from China, Indonesia, Turkey, Mexico, Africa and other countries. In the last 15 years, she focused on fine silver jewelry from Mexico, often traveling to the motherlode, Taxco.
In retirement, Lance raised money for architecture student scholarships and began painting watercolors in earnest. What are their shared “likes,” and passions? Travel. Good food. Fine clothing. Movies, on TV or in theaters. Exceptional architecture. Cool foreign cars. And of course, good friends. Jane loves the beach, not the mountains. Lance likes exercise, painting, a good read, and writing.
Jane and Lance look forward to getting acquainted with their new friends at Ventura Townhouse.
