Senior stories by Cogir: Les & Karen

Transcript

Dave: Cogir Vallejo Hills. You wanna talk about gorgeous. You know, you can get out and go out by the bay, and the Cogir community can make sure that happens. And it’s just a beautiful community. And it’s that lovebird time of year with Valentine’s Day. And Les and Karen, they met at Cogir. Yeah. They met at Vallejo Hills, and I think you’re gonna love their story, and it’ll put you in that lovebird mood. 

So, Les, you’re Santa Monica, and Karen, you’re Denver. 

That was home.

Karen: Right? But here is really home. This is home. Home. For sure. Yeah. We’re very happy here. This is home. 

Les: Yeah. Well, I came to Vallejo in 1962 when I graduated, and became an engineer at Maryland Naval Shipyard, nuclear submarine construction.

Dave: Oh, Les, you’re a smart one. Les, what year did you start doing that? 

Les: 1962. 

Dave: Okay. So, Les, just imagine.

Well, you know the advancements in naval technology since 1962. These current nuclear aircraft carriers have to blow your mind. Right? 

Les: Yeah. They do. They do. But, we were building nuclear submarines at that time. 

Dave: Okay. 

Les: So we have the nuclear propulsion systems and IBMs on ourselves. Yeah.

Dave: So those were first used during the Vietnam era. Correct? 

Les: Yeah. Yeah. The old copy diesel submarines were the last ones used in World War two. And, the nuclear submarines were just coming into power play about ’62. 

Dave: Right. Yeah. And, Karen, growing up in Denver Mhmm. Air Force, your dad, what are some of the memories you have?

Karen: Getting on the big planes, the B-47. I know the B-29’s and just the history of the military. I’m just a military person. 

Dave: Right. 

Karen: Just can’t speak more for our people defending America.

Les: You’re a military brat. 

Karen: I know. I learned, do you know what a military brat is? 

Dave: Of course I do. 

Karen: You do?

Dave: Of course I do. 

Karen: Some people say I don’t know what that means and I tell them I’m proud of it. When your parents are an officer and you have a child who comes up in the military home, then they’re called if they’re an officer, they’re called a military brat. But I never considered myself a brat. No.

Les: I considered you a brat. That’s what they did back then. 

Dave: So in the military, that is a compliment. 

Karen: That’s a good thing. Yes. It is. It’s very good. 

Dave: I’m a big patriotic guy, so I think that’s wonderful, Karen. And, Les, what you did, I think is terrific as well. Tell us about the Cogir community and how you met.

Les: From my standpoint, I moved in. My wife had Parkinson’s, and the family of our three boys that live within about 80 miles of us here had, all spent two or three days with five looking for a senior facility to accommodate her needs. And, so they had looked at about 25 or 30 different facilities. And, they had two that Vi really liked. And this one here has to be only a mile and a half from our home. So I visited here, and I was very impressed with it. And, so Vi and I moved in here at the time. And, she, unfortunately, passed away two and a half years, almost three years ago, I guess. And, so everything’s with the pot for me for a couple of years, but things are back looking good for now. But this turned out to be all around the best facility. They had one of the better cooks here. They only had nice facilities, and the people here were very nice. And so so I moved in with my wife, and then she passed away. And I immediately found out that I have Parkinson’s also. So my kids have all insisted I stay here and make sure to take care of myself. And so it turned out to be good though. I wouldn’t wanna go anyplace else, man. 

Dave: And Les, it has turned out to be really good. And I want you and Karen to talk about that. And one of the big reasons why it’s turned out to be really good. Karen, tell us about meeting Les. 

Karen: Well, I kinda just was a widow for a very long time. My husband died when I was 29 years old. I never remarried. I didn’t date. I was very shy in nature. I just kind of observed an awful lot. I had two careers, but I also had two children to raise by myself. So down there in San Diego area was my home for forty years and then I slowly moved north. And then one day here at Cogir, I was sitting out a little area where we have people participate and chit chat or whatever, and here comes this guy running down the area. And it caught my attention, and I said, “who’s that?” And I’ve never said “who’s that before.” I just wanna know who that thing was in. And from then on, I’ve just been kind of messing with him. He had a little tiny little silly ponytail I flipped around, and he started recognizing me and all that little love story stuff. And it was all worth it because I’m happy. You know? 

Dave: So, Karen Karen, other than being beautiful, how did you get his attention? Here he comes running by. He’s got the ponytail on, and you say, who’s that? And then what’s the next move, Karen? 

Karen: Well, he kept on going, and then I saw him at a social, maybe two or a month and a half later. And I say, there’s that guy I saw. So one thing led to another, and I finally said hi.

And he walked me back to my room here at the Lighthouse after our first social. 

Dave: Go Les. Go Les. 

Karen: That’ll be right. I haven’t had that kind of treatment in a long time. My man walked me back to my apartment, so I was tickled. And I told him, I said, thank you for being a gentleman. I didn’t know how to act. You know? He didn’t even try to make a move on me, but it was all good, you know, and from there on it just clicked and we started looking for each other to eat lunch and things like that. Sometimes together we have our exercise classes and all that stuff, but basically, I enjoy being around him. He makes me happy and I’m bright and cheery, you know. 

Dave: Les, buddy, we gotta talk here. You go jogging by in your ponytail and you have this beautiful lady checking you out and you keep running? What are you doing, Les? Come on. 

Les: You know, living in a facility like this is kinda like putting you back in high school again. You have to rearrange yourself and learn how to function under the new expectations. It took me a little while to get my nerve up, but I did. And, you know, I’m happy I did. I mean, so things worked out great. And I just wanna tell you, I got rid of my ponytail after that. I didn’t want any of their other girls to come. 

Karen: Oh, okay. Okay. I only got the honor. 

Dave: So, Karen, and Les how many of those lunches that you just described, Karen, did it take for you two to realize, hey. This is a little bit more than a lunch. 

Karen: I know where it happened for me, and I told you. We were up there near one of the elevators, and there’s, like, this little two seater loveseat at Cogir here and there. And I said, you know, sit down. And we chitchat for a little while, and then he just came over to me and kissed me, and that did it. I knew I said, he’s got me now. So that is that one kiss I knew. 

Dave: Atta boy Les

Les: Past, you know, when you, when you look back to when you were in high school, you say, jeez. I wish I knew then what I know now. But I know it now. 

Dave: And now you know what you know now. Well, Les it’s working, it’s working for you. So guys, we have Valentine’s Day at the Cogir community of Vallejo Hills. Valentine’s Day, couple of sweethearts. What are the plans? Is Cogir having a special meal or a dance or what are the plans?

Karen: They probably will. 

Les: They have special meals for just about everything here. Yeah. 

Karen: We’ve been dating two years. So I’m happy with the food and the activities and everything that goes on. Even when we wanna get away from Cogir, they have access for us to leave, and that’s always nice, which y’all know. And sometimes you wanna just go out there and have fresh air by the bay and it’s nice to go, you know. But then you feel you come home and here’s all our friends at our apartments. We’re back. You know? We’re here. 

Dave: I love that at Cogir because, yes, if the residents wanna get out a little bit and how lucky you are to be close to the bay, of course, both of you have grown up next to it. You’re used to it. But you get to get out a little bit and enjoy that. So it’s safe to say that you are each other’s valentine. 

Les: I’d say that’s just safe. I say, wouldn’t you? 

Dave: Because Karen’s wearing red, so I can assume that Yeah. You shot the love arrow, the cupid arrow Les. 

Les: And I’m just blushing. So that’s it. 

Dave: Well, congratulations. You are absolutely the cutest couple ever, and I think it’s wonderful. And continue enjoying this relationship. Happy Valentine’s Day. 

Karen: And you too

Dave: And this is very sweet. You definitely have the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Thank you. Thank you. The Cogir community in Vallejo Hills. And it’s beautiful there, by the way. I’ve been to Vallejo.

Les: It is. Absolutely beautiful. And I have to say we have probably the best staff possible. 

Karen: Oh Yeah.

Karen: I know. 

Les: I’ve been around long enough to know. Good staff. They’re so nice.

Dave: Yeah. And you’ve made my day. This is very sweet, and congratulations to both of you. Karen, you look beautiful unless even without the ponytail, you still got it, my friend. You got it. Thank you.

Summary

At Cogir of Vallejo Hills, residents Les and Karen found more than just a place to live—they found each other. They share how their connection grew from friendly conversations to a loving relationship, and how life at Cogir has supported them along the way. Les moved in with his late wife and found comfort in the community during a difficult time, while Karen, widowed at a young age, discovered companionship she never expected. With supportive staff, engaging activities, and easy access to the nearby bay, Cogir has become a true home for both of them.