Stories from Residents

Tom Pallante

Versatile Tom Pallante earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in electrical engineering from Cornell and an MBA from Harvard. His rich and varied professional career was capped with two years working for an investment firm on the Isle of Jersey. His late wife, Grace Knight, enjoyed a 30-year career with United Airlines, which included a one-year educational sabbatical in Paris. She became one of only three women working at airlines to be granted a heavy equipment operator’s license. She had a private pilot’s license and was an avid sailor.

In Villa Marin’s resident-administered government, Tom plays an active role in two key committees: Finance and Facilities & Engineering, while Grace was an active member of the Environmental Committee.

Gail Wainwright

Gail grew up in Merced, California in a large family of builders and developers. With a B.A. in education from Cal Poly, she embarked on a career in teaching and counseling, but building and construction were in her blood. In time she became a professional building contractor, real estate broker, designer and developer. When her sons were young, the family lived for two years in Saudi Arabia. Gail has also lived in Hawaii and traveled five times to India. She is an accomplished artist, specializing in creative wall hangings.

At Villa Marin, Gail has made major contributions to enhancing the attractiveness of our public rooms and corridors.

Christopher Lawrence

New resident Chris Lawrence earned a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt University in 1978 and an MBA at Santa Clara University in 1986. His 40+ year career in the computer and telecommunications field culminated in an appointment as Director of Product Management at Nuance, a company that produces software that recognizes speech commands. On retirement, he enrolled in the theater department at Ohlone College. Chris has directed five plays and was the master carpenter in several others. He traveled widely with his late wife, Karen, and in early 2022 embarked for Norway to see the northern lights.

Chris plans an active retirement, participating in Villa Marin’s varied community activities and enjoying the many opportunities offered by this beautiful part of California.

Sally Williams

Sally Williams is an avid outdoor adventurer and loves spending time in her kayak or sailing on the bay with family and friends. After a day on the water, she enjoys relaxing in her beautiful condo home at Villa Marin, where she enjoys comfortable living with all the benefits of home ownership in addition to on-site healthcare.

Bruce & Barbara Baker

Bruce and Barbara Baker love to play the game of golf and knew when they moved to Villa Marin they would be able to play the various golf courses in and around Marin and Sonoma Counties. They do this many days each week.

Bruce is also very active as a Golf Rules Official with the Northern California Golf Association and the NCAA. He also co-founded Youth on Course which is a non profit organization that allows Boys and Girls, age 8 to 18, to play 18 holes of golf for $5.00. The program is now in all 50 States and all of Canada.

Bruce and Barbara love their Condo ownership and self governance of the Villa Marin and most importantly being with so many interesting, successful and friendly fellow residents.

Geri Kirby

Geri Kerby
I find myself smiling when friends talk about rats in the roof, broken garage doors, or the gardener who didn’t show up. Those responsibilities no longer belong to me. Since moving to Villa Marin, the absence of home maintenance has lifted a quiet weight from my shoulders and brought a lightness to my days. If something needs attention, I simply make a call — and it’s handled. I’m free to return to what matters.

My home is filled with light, a full wall of sunshine that leaves no dark corners. A Murphy bed allows the alcove to transform into living space by day, creating flexibility and even a generous walk-in closet behind it. Living in a thoughtfully scaled space keeps clutter at bay and sharpens my focus on what is truly important. The time, energy, and money I once spent maintaining a house are now invested in experiences, friendships, and living fully — which, to me, is the essence of life at Villa Marin.