The Denver headquarters for World Savings and Loan was a lucky spot for two first day on the job employees, Brad and Lisa. They were sent to HR at the same time to each collect their parking passes and it was “love at first sight.” Soon after, Brad and Lisa were married and built their “dream home” in Boulder, Colorado. It was only a “dream” for a short seven weeks, as World Savings transferred the newlyweds to the Bay Area. “Lisa came kicking and screaming” as she did not want to leave her new home. But once the couple found their California home on Lodgehill Ct. in 1986, both Lisa and Brad fell in love with Danville. They especially loved “the quaintness and charm of the town” and could envision raising their children there. Danville appealed to Lisa as it reminded her of her Midwestern “hometown feel,” and Brad loved being able to lay down “roots” for his family which he didn’t have growing up.
As a child of a father in the Air Force, Brad grew up moving every year or two and by the time he reached the University of Colorado, Boulder, he had lived in ten different states. During his time in college, Brad took on a part time teller job at the bank, as he thought it “was better than flipping burgers.” Little did he know that he would be hired full time after graduation and his plan to “just save money for law school” turned into a different path in banking. With a 17-year career at World Savings, serving in roles as a mortgage representative, then district, region, and division manager, to head of loan marketing. Eventually, Brad moved to working for Washington Mutual and ultimately, Wells Fargo Bank in 2001, holding roles as Executive VP and National Mortgage Sales Manager, running the Housing Policy Department and also Head of Portfolio Lending. After a wonderful career, Brad retired from banking in 2018.
Lisa had an idyllic childhood, being raised in the same house for her entire childhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her family would spend summers at their family cottage on Winona Lake, and eventually, Lisa stayed close to home, attending University of Notre Dame and De Paul University in Chicago. Her first job with LaSalle National Bank in Chicago didn’t last long. After visiting her best friend from high school, who lived in Boulder, Lisa decided to “head to Colorado without a job” (omitting this fact when she told her parents). But all’s well that ends well, as Lisa landed a job at World Savings, meeting Brad on her first day and eventually being promoted to Assistant Manager of Saving Administration. After moving to California, Lisa worked as World’s Central California District Manager, but ultimately chose to work full time for the family to raise her children. “Unable to sit still, Lisa took on many education-related volunteer leadership roles” and continues to do so to this day.
The Blackwells raised three girls right here in Danville. Their youngest daughter, Stephanie, worked in the television industry in LA and NYC, and recently completed her Post-Baccalaureate at Columbia University in NYC. She hopes to move into the physical therapy occupation and come back to California this summer. Her two older sisters, Amanda and Katie, both live in the Greenbrook neighborhood they grew up in, and are now raising their own families there!
Katie revisits her childhood memories daily as she lives on the same street she grew up on, and now teaches at her Alma Mater, Greenbrook Elementary (also the school of her children, Maile and Noa). Many in town have probably seen Amanda working at our hometown bookstore, Rakestraw books. You’ll be sure to find her at the Saturday morning children’s story time and monthly walking book clubs on the Iron Horse Trail. The whole family continues to participate in the Blackwell annual traditions including their family pumpkin decorating. The process begins by “planning a theme a month or two in advance and everyone creates a pumpkin to go with the theme. All of the pumpkins must be decorated with vegetables. “We always buy our unique veggies at Windmill Farms and go en masse!! Some of our favorite themes have been Star Wars, Disney/Pixar, childhood toys, favorite childhood shows, to name a few. We always post our pictures on social media and people anxiously await our annual creations…we hear about it if we are late!!!” Other favorite traditions include the annual Lighting of the Danville Oak Tree, as well as enjoying the exhibits at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and visits to the Danville Farmers Market with their grandkids every Saturday.
Lisa and Brad have four grandchildren. Perhaps their favorite (and most frequent) activity is spending time with Max, Maile, Noa, and Makena. They feel so lucky that their parents, Amanda and Katie and their husbands, decided to stay in Danville. From trips to the zoo, to attending local swim meets, and soccer games, to enjoying talent shows — reliving the best times of raising their own children in Danville has been the highlight of their lives.
Since retirement, both Brad and Lisa have become avid golfers and westside walkers. You will see them circling through town to check out new restaurants and downtown construction with their dogs Sophie (a Covid rescue that is an energetic German Shepherd- Australian Cattle-Border Collie mix) and Ralphie, their “ornery” 8.5 year old Welsh Corgi.
Showing their love and commitment to Danville has been evident in the Blackwells’ volunteer and service roles in recent years. While their daughters were growing up, Brad coached their soccer and softball teams and more recently has spent time as the Board President of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley. He has also volunteered with UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation to help startups across the country which focus on affordable housing. As a Board Treasurer for the Clean Energy Credit Union, Brad also helps advise on providing loans for “green home improvements” such as solar, geothermal power and electric cars.
Not to be overshadowed, Lisa has had her fair share of volunteer leadership roles… even being the PTA President at Greenbrook, Charlotte Wood, SRVHS. She also helped start the Education Foundation at all three schools. Her work in local schools transferred over to the Town of Danville where she served on the Town Council as Vice Mayor. She is currently on the Board of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation. One may say that for the Blackwells “volunteerism is our hobby and favorite pastime!”
Of course, like all good Bay Area locals, Brad and Lisa love following the Warriors. They also enjoy catching their son-in-law, Brodie Brazil’s, broadcast of the A’s and Sharks on the local NBC Sports Network. But, you can always count on Brad to be checking in on his CU Boulder sports teams…”he bleeds black and gold!” Brad and Lisa also enjoy hosting themed parties for friends and family in
their backyard…Beatles themed, retirement parties, birthday celebrations, rehearsal dinners, book clubs, and many others. They are also active in political activities at their home, along with charity fundraisers.
Brad and Lisa have made the most of their retirement years visiting interesting and exotic places such as Tibet, Bhutan, Chile, Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, South Africa and Zimbabwe…to name just a few! During Covid they purchased an Airstream Sprinter Van to visit Lisa’s 90-year old father in Indiana, and although the trip proved to be full of “rookie mistakes,” they have since made it a regular event, taking their dogs from California to many national parks and cross country adventures. This summer they went on a National Geographic Ship to the Arctic Sea and then heading to Portugal in the Fall. Inquiring minds can even follow along all of their adventures in their blog named lisaandbradstravels.com. While traveling is definitely a highlight for Brad and Lisa, calling Danville “home” for over 35 years is one of their greatest joys. Living 2 blocks away from downtown, Brad and Lisa love using all the Danville parks and trails and frequenting their favorite restaurants such as Revel, Danville Brewery, Sideboard and Locanda Ravello. They love to shop and eat locally as much as possible and “feel very fortunate to call Danville our home base… we have given and received much from our community and plan to live our lives in the heart of Danville.”
By Anne Angstenberger, Resident since 2006