Kathy Vendel has lived in Northgate for 20 years with her husband, Jim, and two, now grown, children. She has become an expert on the neighborhood through her work as a real estate agent representing Better Homes & Gardens.
Her first job, however, was in tech support for United Airlines headquarters in Mt. Prospect, IL. As Kathy says, “This was back in the day of free ‘write-your-own’ airline tickets, and my co-workers and I frequently met up at O’Hare Airport on Friday after work to travel someplace fun for the weekend!” She then went to work for a software company where she met Jim. Jim was from the south side of Chicago, and Kathy grew up on the north side. It would seem that a White Sox fan and a Cubs fan might not hit it off, but their work brought them together in 1993. Jim received an offer to move to the company’s Alameda development office in February 1994, just when Chicago was having some record low temperatures, getting down to 80 degrees below zero! It made a move to California seem like a no-brainer. He promptly accepted the offer after arranging for Kathy to join him. They got engaged the following year and not too long after that they planned a trip to Kauai to paddle along the Napali coast. “Neither of us had kayaked before,” remembers Kathy. “So we took lessons at the Berkeley Marina. We trained in one-person kayaks, learning to successfully navigate and roll the kayaks. We were confident! However, when we arrived for the Napali trip, they place us in a two-person kayak. Surprise! Trying to cooperate to paddle 11 miles that day in an unusual head wind… taught us everything we needed to know about how to succeed in marriage. We did not kill each other that day, and we have been happily married for 25 years.”
Kathy and Jim have two kids in college and are enjoying the empty nest phase of life. Jim is semi-retired now and enjoys brewing his own beer and playing guitar. Kathy loves her work representing Northgate homeowners and uses her work as an opportunity to give back to our community. With each home sale, she gives a portion of her commission to a local charity including the education funds of her kids’ former schools: Walnut Acres, Foothill and Northgate, as well as Northgate’s athletic and music booster organizations, Curtain Up Youth Theater and Scottsdale Swim Club. Kathy is also a founding business sponsor of the Community Arts Foundation (formerly Civic Arts Education Foundation). “This is one of my favorite aspects of my work,” says Kathy. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to help Northgate neighbors with their moves and the opportunity to give back!”
Lauren, 19 and now a student in San Diego, was part of the class of 2021 who had their junior and senior years disrupted by the pandemic. Her class missed their Junior Prom and Senior Ball, and her volleyball team endured many quarantines and re-scheduled games. Kathy adds, “Coach Grace Lau has been leading the Northgate girls volleyball program for the last three years. She and the other coaches have done a great job keeping things going through COVID while still bringing the vigor and discipline required to keep the team competitive.” Jim was the assistant coach for five years and still helps out with the team, providing management support.
Logan, 20, an Eagle Scout, attends college in Oregon, studying political science and philosophy. The majority of his first two years in college were spent online, but he’s happy to be back in person now.
The Vendels also have a cat, Viva, and a dog, Mr. Butler, who are both rescues from ARF.
The Vendels moved to Northgate when Logan was one and Lauren was on the way. They moved here for the family-friendly community and highly-rated schools. “Finding our home was love at first sight,” remembers Kathy. “Every day we are grateful to be part of such an incredible community. We loved raising our kids here, loved walking them to Walnut Acres and participating in all that the community has to offer.”
Although Kathy is a homebody, when she can be convinced to leave the backyard, you can usually find her and Jim hiking Shell Ridge or Briones, driving through wine country, or making an occasional visit to Kauai. She looks forward to seeing everyone out in the neighborhood!
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at knavolio@bestversionmedia.com.
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991