In 2013, while both working for the Bay Area Tech Company, Eventbrite, Marc left a simple note asking Stacie on a date while she was in a meeting. The only response options on the note were “Yes” or “Absolutely.” Needless to say there was no other option than to go on the date and that led to many more. Some of their favorite early dates included classic San Francisco hot spots such as Swenson’s Ice Cream in Russian Hill and a Halloween Costume Party Bus Crawl through the city. Although they each had different times when they knew the other was “the one”…Stacie knew when they were skiing in Switzerland and she had to sit down and refused to continue at the top of a steep run. Marc’s ski instructing experience kicked in and he lovingly said he would call a helicopter for her or carry her down the mountain himself. Thankfully he walked her down the mountain with “no helicopter required.” Marc’s moment was on a visit to Seattle for a University of Washington Huskies game and he “realized she was down for anything and could see a life full of adventures ahead.” After planning a huge surprise weekend to organize all of their closest family and friends in Lake Tahoe, Marc proposed to Stacie and she was so shocked to see all who had come from near and far to celebrate their engagement for the whole weekend. The two were married in Stacie’s home state of Pennsylvania, followed by an adventurous honeymoon in South Africa.
Born and raised just outside of Philadelphia, Stacie stayed close to home for college and graduated from St. Joseph’s University with degrees in English and Marketing. During high school and college she worked at a local flower shop, and although after college her career path shifted, she knew one day she would “circle back to flowers.” In the meantime, she took her “love of storytelling” into the world of event marketing at a magazine. Followed by a cross county move to San Francisco, and landing into the corporate-tech space when she spent nearly a decade in account management…but “flowers did circle back!” Inspired by her entrepreneurial parents, Stacie launched her own floral designer business, Anastasia Andenmatten Floral Design.
Stacie explains that she “loves blending my own design perspectives with my corporate
background to create a signature approach for my clients and partners. Today we focus on custom wedding, corporate and brand florals across the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s a career I feel lucky to have found my way to.
Every day is different, and I love that.” Although Marc was born and raised in Switzerland, he would spend his summers visiting his grandparents in Orinda, making him very familiar with the Bay Area. He eventually found his way to the University of Washington and graduated with a BA in International Studies. With a referral from a fraternity friend, Marc took a sales job with the young startup, Eventbrite, in San Francisco. It was a great couple of years and thankfully the place he met Stacie, but he knew he would eventually pivot to Real Estate, coming from a family of Real Estate Brokers. Marc took a job as an analyst “to learn the ropes” at a small apartment brokerage in the Financial District. Eventually Marc had built up his own book of business and has been doing apartment sales all over Northern California ever since.
Both Marc and Stacie believe that their families have passed down the entrepreneurship spirit to their own family.
“Our parents and grandparents built their own individual businesses from the ground up through long hours, real risk, and a lot
of pride in their work. They built something they were proud of and took care of the people around them. It’s a legacy we’re proud to carry on.” Perhaps one day that entrepreneurial spirit will manifest itself within Teo, Marc and Stacie’s son. But for now, little Teo is a busy 5-year-old kindergartener at Montair Elementary School. He loves riding his bike, playing legos, and even helping out with home improvement projects. Teo also speaks Swiss-German with his Dad, something Stacie loves, even if she doesn’t understand very much!
The Andenmatten family spends a lot of time enjoying the outdoors. Whether it be hiking, gardening or camping with friends, you can find them making the most of their time together living as “unhurried a life as possible.” While there is always time for
Marc to enjoy a round of golf at Blackhawk or watch UW football games, Stacie and Marc have recently joined Iron Horse Fitness and love having the direct access right off the trail and close to home. Stacie also volunteers with the non-profit organization Let Grow, dedicated to helping children build independence and confidence through more freedom in outdoor play, exploring their neighborhoods, and problem solving independently. She also loves volunteering in Teo’s classroom and looks forward to getting more involved with the Town of Danville.
Marc and Stacie have been blessed to travel the world as a family….from Japan, to Europe, to Morocco to the East Coast to visit Stacie’s parents and twin sister… it’s hard to pick a favorite. But one recent trip to Saas- Free for a family wedding gave them the idea to take a “year long family sabbatical” in Marc’s small, car-
free, Swiss village. “We enjoyed lots of family time and soaking up the culture; endless nature, a slower pace of life, safe and community-centered village, easy travel to other European countries and a chance to deepen connections with family there.” Teo did a year of kindergarten, spoke Swiss-German, learned how to ski…all while Marc and Stacie enjoyed stepping back from work, slowing down and traveling together as a family. It was a memorable year of giving Teo a “taste of Marc’s own childhood” and of parenting abroad.
While their year away was definitely an adventure to remember, returning to California this summer has reminded them of why they moved to the westside of Danville. Living and working in San Francisco was a special time for Marc and Stacie, but during COVID, they found out they were pregnant and felt it was the right time to search for their first home and have more space. They “cast a wide net,” looking in both the North Bay and the East Bay…but their focus was for a town with “walkability to a downtown, character, and a sense of community.” They eventually found Danville and had an immediate feeling that it would be an “amazing place to call home.” When they found their home on Verona Ave, with the backyard gate that opened up to the Iron Horse trail, they immediately knew it would be a perfect place to raise their son. Now 6 years later, they still love the walkability to downtown, riding bikes on the trail (they will never forget teaching Teo to ride his bike on the SRVHS track), visiting the farmers market, trips to the library, and heading into town for coffee, frozen yogurt, Happy Hour and dinner.
The Andenmatten family feels incredibly lucky to have their neighbors as part of their “village”-whether “its pot potluck dinners, playdates, walks, helping with babysitting, house projects or even advice.” You can find them most nights sitting on their porch watching and catching up with their neighbors. If Marc and Stacie had one family motto to share with their neighbors it would be “Life is short. If not now, when? You can always change your mind! Whether it’s a career leap, a move cross-country or abroad, or raising our son in our own way, we love getting out of our comfort zone and questioning the norm.” Thank you to the Andenmattens for sharing their story with the Danville Living family, we are lucky you chose Danville to call home!
By Anne Angstenberger, Resident since 2006
Photos provided by the Andenmatten Family