Member Bios

Anne Geraghty

Anne grew up in Redwood Village, a small subdivision on the outskirts of Redwood City south of San Francisco. It was a neighborhood of children and families that cared about each other. Later, living in Sacramento's McKinley Park with block parties and kitchens overlooking the street, there was another sense of neighborliness.

Anne studied art history at San Jose State and city planning at the University of Pittsburgh. She worked for many years for the California Air Resources Board and was the founding president and executive director of WALKSacramento, a pedestrian advocacy organization. 
 
Cohousing has been an interest of hers for a long time. She's excited about bringing together a committed group to create a special place that will become a home as well as a community. 

“I love that I will be living in close proximity with friends spontaneously taking advantage of the many activities of this vibrant area .... and, of course, I love the fact that our site is very walkable and bikeable too.”

Stuart Pettygrove

Willa and I have lived in Davis for 40 years, and we raised two daughters there. I am a retired UC Davis Cooperative Extension soil scientist. I still occasionally teach Master Gardener soils workshops, and I get soil (aka dirt) under my nails by pulling weeds in our community garden plot.  My passion since age 12 is backpacking, but I'm active in two non-partisan citizen lobby groups, and that probably also qualifies as a passion.  I am excited to be preparing for the next phase of life by helping to create a cohousing community in West Sacramento.

Willa Pettygrove

​I learned about Cohousing when I went back for a master’s degree in City Planning at U. C. Berkeley in the nineties. One of my classes was called “Housing as if People Matter” taught by Clair Cooper Marcus. Now I’m retired and have a T-shirt with the Fred Babb motto “go to your studio and make stuff”. During COVID I’m clocking an hour a day at my sewing machine. My sister Fran Bowman, also a Washington Commoner, gave me the sign on my studio door that says “Don’t touch anything in here. Everything is strategically placed!” I’m also known to spend time in the kitchen and love to bake and make soup. When I go outside, it’s usually to tend some vegetables in my Community Garden plot, or my California native plants.

Jae Jensen

When Anne and I went to the same church, Capital City Unity, she introduced me to co-housing. I was looking for a smaller place to live and the idea of a community with like-minded friends was instantly appealing. Our location provides the gifts of nature — the river, nature trails, bike trails but yet the big city is just across the Tower Bridge. I love playing pickle ball, enjoy riding my bike. The rest of the time, I’m usually reading. Come join our wonderful group of friends.

Janet Wilson

Janet developed a keen interest in photography and travel long before joining her husband, Stu, in forming a freelance travel writer/photographer team with more than 100 stories published in print and on-line. Travel has been a source of inspiration and adventure ever since, including a walk across England in 2012. So far she has visited 45 US states and 81 countries on 6 continents.

Janet’s BA in History and Teaching Credential led her into elementary school classrooms in Marysville and Sacramento before she began working for the California Department of Health as an analyst and then manager, for 27 years. For even longer she has been researching her family history and genealogy. She has just recently discovered she descends from a “Pilgrim” who arrived on the Mayflower!
Janet and Stu both enjoy cooking and have belonged to their “gourmet group” for nearly 40 years, where they try new recipes and cuisines and share them with long-time friends several times a year. For nearly as long they have also belonged to a “wine-tasting group,” mostly an excuse to socialize, but also a chance to discover more about wine as a food, and beverage.
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Janet is now looking forward to a slightly slower pace—that is after she helps insure that Washington Commons becomes a properly designed and promptly constructed co-housing community in nearby West Sacramento, where its central, walkable, bikeable location beckons.    

Stuart Wilson

For 15 years Stu worked with his wife, Janet Wilson as a team of freelance writer/photographers, specializing in food, wine and travel.  Native Californians with a love of history and architecture, they have resided in Sacramento for more than 45 years, when not on the road.  They have written stories on wine, beer, dining, destinations and journeys set in Europe and North America, especially California. Their work has been published in Motorhome, Trailer Life, Sierra Heritage, and Brew magazines. They contributed regularly to RV Journal magazine including a regular column on obscure places called The Road Less Traveled, before the magazine ceased publication in 2014.
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Prior to launching this journalism partnership, Stu worked in several occupations: as a planner in local government; as a program manager for a local electric utility; and, as a lobbyist representing local governments to the state government in Sacramento. He met his future wife, Janet at CSU Chico. He earned his BA in Economics there, and subsequently attended graduate school at UC Davis, to study Urban Geography and Planning. He has a long-time interest in promoting responsible development consistent with protecting our environment. Stu finds the opportunity to join other members in developing Washington Commons, with its accessible, central urban location, a rewarding and timely challenge.      

Polly Caple

​Polly has lived in the north Sacramento area for over 40 years. She has been retired from Alta California Regional Center for over 10 years.  She enjoys gardening, helping children learn about vegetable gardening, reading, theater and Americana Music.  As a member of Washington Commons cohousing, she looks forward to again experiencing the neighborliness of her youth in Illinois. 

Fran Bowman

Hi, I’m Fran.

My favorite thing is to be a foster kitten mom, volunteering with our local shelter. Sometimes my own three cats - Dunnigan, Rumsey and Guinda - get curious about what I am doing with all the kids!

I also really enjoy my studio, where I run a home-based “doll hospital” and work on my endless unfinished sewing and quilting projects.

 I am active with our Sacramento Valley Returned Peace Corps group. I served my tours in Jamaica and Benin 42 years apart.

I am looking forward to moving to a new place, to share many fun activities with neighbors and cats!

Chris Cheung

​I was born and raised in Maryland, where I currently live. I am the IT guy for a small company in Virginia. While my lifelong passion has always been “all things tech”, I also prefer to unplug whenever possible, spending time outside walking, hiking, or cycling. While I feel privileged to live and work near the nation's capital, I am looking forward to moving to the capital of The Golden State, where I plan to walk, hike, and cycle as much as possible. I have family in the Bay Area and they will be happy to finally see me on the same coast.

Lisa Walker 

Lisa works as a full time occupational therapist, managing the rehabilitation department in a large psychiatric ward. She has a Masters Degree in Gerontology and in 2001 she began writing her thesis on Seniors Living in Intentional Communities and the Potential for an Increased Quality of Life.  This is when she and her husband, Scott, developed their fascination with cohousing.

She enjoys spending time with like minded and spirited people who want to deepen their connection to others. She spends her free time walking, meditating, and relaxing in nature - especially by natural bodies of water. Recently, Lisa has been discovering more and more about her Native American heritage, and even spending time with her Tribe in Southern Oregon participating in traditional ceremonies like the Pow Wow. 

Scott Walker 

I grew up in the Santa Clara Valley, and currently live in Cloverdale, CA. As a third generation Northern Californian, I really appreciates finding a co-housing opportunity so close to home. I am looking forward to surrounding himself with like-minded people.
 
I love outdoor adventure, you may often find me on a camping trip or on a long hike with my wife of 35 years, Lisa.
Tennis and kayaking are also major interests. If I am not directly participating, I enjoy going to sporting events, and can be found at Forty Niner and Giants games. Listening to live music is also a real passion of mine, and I hope to be involved in the Sacramento music scene at some level.

Career-wise, I critique, evaluate and sell fine wines. My clients are some of the top wine collectors in the country who depend on me to “get the good stuff”. I have been doing this professionally for 23 years.

Barbara Allen-Brecher

I’m a life-long Californian, born in San Francisco, raised in Los Angeles and Sacramento.  I spent most of my career working as an Administrative Law Judge with the State Personnel Board.  In 2016 I retired and began a new and exciting chapter of my life.  Terry and I purchased a very cool RV van with the goal of travelling around the country with our pup, Teddy, visiting National Parks as well as family and friends. And, that’s just what we did!  If you want to see a little more about our travels, you can check out my blog, barbaraallenbrecher.org.
We live in the grid in Sacramento and love the urban life!  I enjoy long walks around town and eating in the many delicious restaurants in our neighborhood. I am looking forward to the next adventure of co-housing in West Sacramento while still experiencing the joys of urban living.

Terry Allen-Brecher

I had a childhood that included barrel racing in No. Calif., a stint in Australia, and many, many outdoor adventures while living in Papua New Guinea.  I’ve lived much of my adult life in the Sacramento area where I raised two sons and muddled my way down two career paths, first as an RN and then a licensed clinical social worker. Barb and I have shared many adventures in our 30 years together, including downhill skiing, cycling, traveling and, yes, snorkeling. After Barb retired in 2016, we headed out in our small RV and tooled around the US and Canada for 4 months, amazing both family and friends when we returned home with nary a scratch on either ourselves or our RV. ​

Durriyah Khorakiwala

​I spent my childhood in a close-knit neighborly community in Mumbai, India. My mother used to tell me that from the time I was 4-5 years old, I used to talk about coming to USA to study. As a young adult, I came to USA and my first landing was at Cal State Stanislaus, Turlock, CA. Since then, home base has been in the SF bay area. My career as a psychologist has been lively and adventurous. Currently I’m enjoying my work at the Santa Clara Valley Health system, in primary care behavior health integration. Traveling has been my passion, and when I’m not working or traveling, I enjoy, edible gardening, hiking, reading, spending time with family and friends, raising chickens and enjoying living in the moment. Lately, I’ve taken up sewing and laughing, for no reason, as a hobby. I wonder why.

Having lived in the suburbs for the last few decades and raising two children (now young adults), my husband Badru and I are eager to move to West Sacramento with restaurants, shops, theaters, and festivals nearby. The location of Washington Commons with its nearby Riverwalk offers a renewed promise of a friendly community with the added benefits of cohousing, living in a diverse community and neighborhood, and yet being able to visit friends in the bay area or going to the mountains with an easy couple hour drive!

Tom Mead

In retirement I have become a number of things; farmer, forester, gourmet chef and Olympic runner. Or at least some version of those activities. In the summer months my wife Lenny and I supervise each other and an 8,000 square foot vegetable garden/orchard in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. We are surrounded by a 60 acre woodlot where I ply my chainsaw skills. My chef skills are limited to the confines of Blue Apron meals, but I do follow directions well.

Running is a passion/addiction of mine acquired in the 1960’s and carried out, on and off (mostly on), ever since.  Of late it affords plenty of time to consume volumes of audio books ranging from biographies to science fiction. Washington Commons will be a great place for these activities, except maybe the chainsaw work, and in warmer winter weather. And despite the fact that these appear to be solitary pursuits, I enjoy sharing the meals and talking about the books.

Lenore Mead

My favorite way to get to know you would be to go for a walk with you.  

My best days begin with a walk through my garden which includes orchard, raspberry patch, 36 beds for annual and perennial fruits and vegetables and a California inspired grape arbor sporting grapes and hops. Such starts are only slightly marred by tomato horn worm encounters. This love of gardening has been passed on to the next two family generations in California and North Carolina.

My interest in co-housing has germinated for over 15 years and finally looks to be taking root in Washington Commons. I plan to bring my communal cooking skills, acquired during several stints with communities in the Bay Area, to bear in our kitchen. My second favorite way to get to know you would be to prepare a meal with you.

I’m always up for games and puzzles of many kind. In my next life I will be a bridge player.

Zvi (Zvika) Littman

I am a retired electronics engineer with 27 years’ experience in designing and implementing intelligence and electronic warfare devices for the Israeli Security industry. In my second career after retirement I was a pilot and a skipper who led tours in the Mediterranean around the Greek and Turkish beaches.

I was born in Romania, in 1944. My parents run away from the Nazis and ended up in Bergen Belsen in Germany. They immigrated to Israel in 1949.

I grew up and got educated in Israel. I served as a combat officer in the Israeli army, and as an officer in the army reserve (miluim) for 25 years. I fought in 1967, 1973 and 1982 wars and participated in numerous anti-terrorist activities.

I was married for 45 years and have two adult children and five grown grandchildren who live in Israel.

In 2012, after the death of my wife I met Racheli and we set a life together both in Tel Aviv and in Sacramento. I am an avid movie watcher and enjoy creating family and travel videos. I am building a website which will tell our own and our families’ stories, titled unforgettable you. I treasure community activities and look forward to being part of our vibrant and supportive Washington Commons community.

Rachel (Racheli) Choppin

I am a retired educator, human resource consultant and a career counselor who lived and worked in Israel, England, and USA. I was active in the Israeli and Jewish community in Los Angeles for many years.

I was born and grew up in Israel and studied Biology in the Hebrew University, in Jerusalem. I met my first husband soon after completing my undergraduate studies. We moved to London and worked in educational research until 1981. My husband was invited to work in UCLA, and I studied Educational and Career Counseling in UCLA. After his death, my son and I stayed in West Los Angeles. I first in worked as a teacher in Jewish Schools and then moved into in career counseling, human resources management and teaching in UCLA and UC Davis Extensions.

In 2011 I travelled to Israel and taught human resources and career counseling in three colleges and reconnected with my mother and four siblings after living abroad for 40 years. I met Zvika in 2012 and we got married in 2015.  I have a son, a daughter in law and two granddaughters who live in Sacramento.

At present Zvika and I split our times between Tel Aviv and Sacramento. We both love traveling, Israeli and Jewish movies and are part of the Sacramento Jewish Festival committee which screens movies for the yearly festival. I am passionate about bringing the best of out of people and building communities. I look forward to contributing my passion and skills to developing the Washington Commons cohousing project.

Bill Roehr

Hi there, I’m Bill. Tildi and I are looking forward to being your neighbors at Washington Commons. Tildi is 9 and has long reddish golden hair, a constantly drippy nose, liquid brown eyes and leg feathers, typical of Golden Retrievers.

In addition to Tildi, I’ll be bringing my tool belt and experience at home maintenance and I’ll also tote along my eclectic interests. This means I’ll look forward to being your sous chef, comparing notes on a good read, or filling the seat next to you to hear Bach or Bruckner or to see that provocative new play at the Sophia.

If that sounds boring, let’s go outside. It can just be a walk, Tildi likes that. Or it can be more vigorous: laps at the West Sacramento Rec Center pool; a run to Land Park; a bike ride on the parkway up to River Bend Park; or a day at Alpine Meadows. I’ll like that. Regardless, I’m looking forward to our mutual neighborliness at Washington Commons.

Sandra Lee

Hi, I am Sandra.

I, along with Jax, Ollie and Katie are excited about meeting our new neighbors and making new friends at Washington Commons. Jax is the most excited as he will have new, large birdwatching windows, high counters and small spaces to explore and best of all, new friends to rub his belly. Katie and Ollie as the senior felines of the family are more relaxed about the move.

Having spent time residing in various retreat centers and monasteries, I know the joy of communal activities - be they housekeeping, preparing and cooking delicious food together or sharing recreational activities such as creating crazy collages in our ‘shop and messy craft room’.

Washington Commons will provide for both shared community experiences as well as private, individual spaces. We will have the best of both worlds at Washington Commons.

Patrick Thornton

I am excited about joining Washington Commons - a co-housing community which honors neighbors of diverse backgrounds, different cultures, various ethnic and spiritual traditions united in the shared vision of creating a special place that is both home and community.

As a child I grew up traveling with my father (a Pastor and Evangelical Clergy) to more than 32 states. We often stayed with communities of color, varying Christian denominations, as well as communities widely diverse both socially and economically. It was a wonderful way to learn appreciation for ‘being in community’ of like-minded individuals sharing similar values of mutual respect and regard for one another.

As an adult I have been blessed with opportunities - both as a hospice chaplain and as a spiritual teacher of mindfulness (Buddhism) - to deeply appreciate the power of both family and community. Joining Washington Commons seems like ‘coming home’.

The location of Washington Commons is the ‘icing on the cake’. It has the wonders of both an urban and rural setting. Hiking and biking trails, museums, and art galleries are some amenities within walking distance of Washington Commons.

‘Coming home’ to Washington Commons will mirror my daily meditation practice - both are a safe haven and refuge from the cacophony of daily living.