Brett and Gina’s story began during their freshman year at San Ramon Valley High School, when one dance and a simple question—“Will you be my girlfriend?”—sparked a love that would shape a lifetime. What started as a teenage romance grew into a partnership neither could have imagined that night.
Twenty-eight years later, Brett and Gina are still deeply in love—married, raising a beautiful family, and building a life together on the very same street where their journey continues, fittingly named Love Lane. Their life together has included both joyful milestones and profound challenges, all rooted in a love they believe was meant to be and made in the image of God.
Brett grew up on the westside of Danville, attending Montair Elementary, Stone Valley Middle School, and San Ramon Valley High School before graduating from Indiana University. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and later founded his own company in military defense technology, now of growing global significance.
Gina spent her early childhood in San Ramon before moving to Danville in seventh grade, where she attended Charlotte Wood and San Ramon Valley High School. She began college at Arizona State University, but after surviving a life-threatening car accident, she returned home to the Bay Area and completed her degree at Saint Mary’s College—guided, as she believes, by God’s greater plan.
While in college, Gina survived a catastrophic car accident that changed the course of her life. She was rear-ended at high speed by a rental car that failed to brake as traffic slowed on I-5, sending her 1997 convertible Cabriolet off a 90 foot embankment. The car flipped multiple times, and Gina was ejected, sustaining life-threatening injuries—most critically severe trauma to her larynx. She would ultimately undergo more than 20 reconstructive surgeries to restore her airway and voice.
One of the most extraordinary moments surrounding the accident occurred the night before. While visiting a friend in Los Angeles, Gina called Brett to catch up—something they regularly did during college breaks, long before texting or social media. During that call, they realized they would both be driving I-5 the next day and made plans to meet briefly at the Grapevine. Unknowingly, Brett would be the last person Gina saw before the accident. Because communication was far less immediate at the time, Brett would not learn the full extent of what had happened for months. Gina credits her survival, including two profound out-of-body experiences, to faith and divine protection—an event that ultimately brought her home to the Bay Area and reshaped her future.
God’s hand was always guiding and protecting Gina. Despite initially losing her voice, she began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, then felt a calling to healthcare. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Clinical Nurse Leadership and her RN license from the University of San Francisco. Gina worked for several years in a step-down trauma unit at San Francisco General/Zuckerberg Hospital and now continues her nursing practice at a local plastic surgery office while raising their children.
After marrying, Brett and Gina’s life together unfolded across the Bay Area—renting a cottage in Diablo, purchasing a townhouse in Walnut Creek, and living in San Francisco for five years—before returning home to build their dream house on Love Lane in 2014. They are grateful to be seed investors and active supporters of One Hope Winery, where their involvement helps fund charitable initiatives providing essential school supplies to under-resourced K–12 classrooms across the country, among other causes. Through prayer and reflection, Brett and Gina became members of the Catholic Church in April 2025. They believe this step has brought deeper meaning and connection to their family and community, and they strive to live each day in acknowledging all the grace and mercy God has shown and provided them, even before they were baptized.
The Cummings family is filled with life and energy, having three busy children, who all attend St. Isidore School. Brayden, in 7th grade, is a math wizard and spends a lot of time in the neighborhood with his closest friends. He is also quite the athlete! This past year he played quarterback for his T-Bird football team, is the Goal Keeper on his ECNL Soccer Team with consistent invitations to train with the PDP team and continues to play year-round baseball for his EJ Travel Baseball team.
Addy, in 5th grade, also shares her love of math and art as her favorite subjects in school. She spends much of her free time practicing her passion for dance at Next Step Dance Studio and tumbling at Nor-Cal with coach Izzy. This year Addy was invited to Nationals at the Hollywood Connection National Dance Competition and won the FAME award and is now represented by The Movement Talent Agency and has entered the world of commercial dance representation.
The whole family feels that their Catholic Faith and Mary has interceded for Addy to offer her this amazing opportunity. While Brett and Gina were in DC looking for homes and schools, Gina took a photo of a statue
of Mary at one of the Catholic schools they had been touring. That evening Mary came to Gina in her dream, Gina had a dream that Addy had been in the same car accident she was in. When Gina ran down the cliff a large feminine presence was standing over Addy’s body on the ground. The woman spoke to Gina saying very directly, “She is mine, stop worrying about her.” She woke up and was in tears but had comfort that all would be well. Coincidently (or not), the next two weekends Addy would be invited to National Finals by two different Dance conventions, never having been recognized before, and go on to win the FAME award at Hollywood Connection. Mary’s protection and God’s grace are very real and tangible to their family. When Addy has a free moment, she loves choreographing dances on her own, tumbling, doodling, indoor trampoline parks and being at her Grandma’s house.
Sweet Kindergartener, Bodhi, also plays baseball, flag football, soccer, and loves being at Grandma’s house too. But most importantly he looks up to his big brother, Brayden, and Addy and all of their great St Isidore friendships they’ve made. He too is finding his friendship roots in Kindergarten at SIS. To round out the Cummings family, you can find 9-month-old Golden Retriever litter-mates, Zoe and Poppy, tagging along on walks, sporting events, car rides and all the other family activities that are on the calendar.
Brett and Gina feel lucky to have been able to raise their own family just down the street from where they first met. Both of their families still live in Danville, and it’s exciting to be able to continue family traditions and pass them down to their own children. The Cummings enjoy their home tucked away on Love Lane, just secluded enough to be
nestled on the mountainside of Las Trampas, but close enough to walk to downtown. Even though there have been opportunities to move elsewhere (even potentially DC last year), Brett and Gina “couldn’t fathom leaving Danville and its ‘quintessential hometown feel.’”
Spending time together, traveling during school and holiday breaks, is always a priority. This winter they will be in the
Caribbean, and try to sneak off to Los Angeles, Hawaii, The Hamptons and will travel to Europe this summer. Even though the family vacations are a treat, it’s a blessing to always come back home to Danville. The Cummings family motto they hope to pass onto their children, and by default, their community, is one we can all hope to practice…”Be yourself. Do good. Honor God—and everything else will follow.”
By Anne Angstenberger, Resident since 2006
Photos provided by the Cummings Family