Lower Downtown District, Inc.

LOFT DWELLERS AND LODO LOVERS KATHERINE AND RON PINSON

Oct 26, 1999

On paper, they seem as if they're the "typical" loft types.
They're cool. They're students who love the city. They've
got a statue of Willy (William Shakespeare) in their Wazee
loft and an English bulldog named "Maggie T" (short for
Margaret Thatcher). And their favorite way to spend a
weekend is to find a good restaurant in the "Pig Book"
(Gabby Gourmet's LoDo Guide) and go to the theater.

But when you meet Ron and Katherine Pinson, you find they're
not 20-somethings starting their lives. They're
50-somethings restarting their lives.

"Some people get to a certain age and want to play," says
Katherine. "We still like to work." After being married
for 33 years, raising four boys and living in Grand Junction
for 22 years, Katherine and Ron are trading in their way of
life (as well as a 4000-square-foot home) for life in a
loft.

Katherine, self-described as "one of the oldest students,"
is attending law school at Denver University while Ron,
recently retired from his orthopedic surgeon practice, is a
student at Iliff School of Theology.

Katherine is still deciding but wants to use her degree to
"do something with community service" while Ron plans to
earn a degree in biomedical ethics. "Over the years in
orthopedic surgery, I got to be involved in some of the
greatest technical advances. But there have been no real
advances in inter-human relationships. I'd like to
contribute to that."

As they talk, passionate about their plains, you believe it
when Ron says, "We live life to the fullest."

Why did you choose to live in Lodo?
Katherine: I love architecture and LoDo is so interesting.
. .a mix of old and new. . .with changes going on
constantly. We went to one of the LoDo Loft Tours and just
fell in love with all the light and space.

What do you like best about LoDo?
Ron: I don't think we could pick just one favorite.
Katherine: There are so many great restaurants. We have
our favorites and we keep looking for new ones.

What is the best part about parenthood?
Ron: Watching all four of our boys blossom into their own
persons. We have an accountant, a doctor, a businessman and
a warrior (one is in the Marines).

What's the secret of a happy marriage?
Katherine: Give lots of love and lots of space-and don't be
critical.
Ron: Support the other's endeavors-and keep your sense of
humor. We've always had fun in everything we've done.

What's your philosophy of life?
Katherine: Life, at best, is short so pursue the things you
love and do them with enthusiasm.