A Shared Life of Curiosity, Connection, and Adventure at Coterie Cathedral Hill

Rick and Cindy’s life together started in 1970 at a dinner party in Washington, D.C., and you’d be forgiven for thinking it sounds like the opening of a classic romantic comedy.

Cindy, then a producer at CBS News, had just found a new car she could afford—but she had to fly to Pittsburgh to pick it up. Anxious about making the long drive back alone, she asked if anyone at the table would like to join her for the journey.

Rick, an environmental activist and self-described “medical school dropout,” had been staring at her all evening. So, he volunteered on the spot.

They flew out to Pittsburgh together, then drove back to D.C. through one of the worst snowstorms in years. They entertained each other over the six-hour drive by singing show tunes.

“By the time we got back to Washington,” Rick says, “we were pretty close to engaged.”

They soon got married on a boat sailing down Pittsburgh’s Monongahela. More than five decades later, Rick and Cindy continue to share a vibrant life of stimulation and adventure at Coterie Cathedral Hill.

Seeking Simplicity Without Sacrificing Stimulation

For Rick and Cindy, settling into luxury senior living was never going to mean settling down.

Over the course of their lives together, the couple has lived in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles, while pursuing varied careers in journalism, politics, medicine, and law. They traveled extensively around the world while also raising two sons.

Rick was in Berlin in November of 1989, the night the Wall came down.

“Berliners were handing out sledgehammers and encouraging everyone to chip off a piece of history for themselves,” he says, nodding toward the chunk of concrete he carried home, which he now displays proudly on a nearby shelf. “It was thrilling.”

In 2013, they moved to San Francisco, where their children and grandchildren lived. But as they grew older, the daily tasks required to maintain their large house started to take a toll on their health. After a particularly bad fall in the shower landed Cindy in a trauma center, they decided it was time to seek out a different living situation.

“By that point, we just knew we couldn’t really manage living on our own in a big house,” Rick said. “So, we started to look into other living arrangements.”

Their two sons played an important role in exploring the senior living options that would be best suited to Rick and Cindy’s lifestyle and interests, visiting communities throughout the Bay Area. But Coterie Cathedral Hill was the clear standout.

“Our sons called me and said, ‘Dad, we found the perfect place for you. Pack your bags.’”

The Freedom to Live Simply

It didn’t take long for Rick and Cindy to agree that their sons had been correct in their judgment.

The simplicity and convenience of their residence at Coterie appealed to Rick and Cindy immediately. They love the natural light and the spectacular view of the Bay Area. They love that it’s spacious enough to have two bathrooms and an office but not so overwhelmingly large that they have to worry about rooms they’d never use. And they love that housekeeping services take care of all the daily maintenance and chores that they had to handle themselves when they lived on their own.

“At this point in my life, I don’t want a big house,” Cindy says. “I already did that. It’s so nice not having to worry about little things like making the bed or going up and down stairs.”

She credits the staff for their hands-on engagement and their attention to detail, especially when it comes to accommodating the needs and preferences of individual residents.

“They remember everything,” she says. “For example, I don’t eat pork or shellfish, and the dining staff always takes care to make sure there are plenty of options for me to eat.”

Rick agrees that Coterie’s culinary program is a highlight.

“The food here is great,” he says. “You can tell the menus are really thought out and put together with care.”

Finding a New Community at Coterie

Just as important to Rick and Cindy is the thriving social life at Coterie. Having enjoyed a life rich in close friendships, they wanted to live somewhere that provided a similar level of communal camaraderie and intellectual engagement.

Cindy was struck by how active and engaged Coterie’s residents were. She quickly found herself immersed in a community where her neighbors formed book groups, followed politics, discussed the news over breakfast, attended movies in Coterie’s theater, and met for regular games of Scrabble®.

“It has a real vitality to it,” she says. “It’s like a dorm for older people who all share a similar intellectual curiosity.”

The couple takes advantage of the many activities and outings Coterie has to offer, but they also appreciate having the freedom to spend their time however they want.

Looking Forward to the Next Adventure

After 56 years together, Rick and Cindy have enough stories to fill several lifetimes. And they haven’t lost their appetite for new experiences, be it going out to see a show, staying in to watch a movie, or enjoying a game night with friends.

“I’ve come to think of Coterie as a cruise ship without water,” Rick says. “There’s always something fun going on, and there’s always friends around to do it with.”