Dana grew up as an only child in a very supportive environment. With a continuous loving group of her parent’s friends and their children she was shown enormous amounts of love. Dana says. “It was pretty idyllic. I lived in an adult world. As a teenager, life was pretty frantic. I was involved in a lot of extra curricular activities at school and kept up a fast pace. I have high energy and can just go…”
Everyone knows Dana’s expertise on historic preservation, but I wanted to find out about her as a person. When asked, “Who are you?” she replied, “ I’m a mom and a really hard worker. Actually, I’m afraid to look at who I am.”
Dana is proud of her relationships with her sons and their families. “ We have a great close family. My eldest son works with me and we get along famously. My family lives in Denver except for one son in New York. I have five granddaughters and one grandson and see them often.”
Do you play grandma? I’m not the babysitting type, but we do sleepovers and have pretty good communication. I’ve read them all of the Harry Potter books. I’d like to take them to Italy someday.”
What do you do on “sleepovers?” I have this wonderful Portuguese water dog, Dr. Freud. We take him for big walks by the river, get smoothies at Inks and walk downtown and discover the city. I went to Grandparent’s Day at Grayland School and the kids were talking about what they like best about Grandma and they said the sleepovers!
A personality profiler lists three categories of personalities: panthers, dolphins and owls, which do you think you are? Definitely the “panther.” They’re strong and take charge. People that get things done are always set up.
Does that bother you? No, it doesn’t bother me. I’ve learned to handle it. There’s a book I’ve read called The Four Agreements. I try to live by them. The agreements are:
1. Don’t take it personally
2. Be impeccable with your word, (speak with integrity, say only what you mean)
3. Don’t make assumptions
4. Always do your best
What’s important in your life? Family, integrity, spirit and generosity to the maximum of my ability
What’s in your future? Completion of Prospect Place Village
What are your volunteer activities? Denver Partnership, Colorado Historical Society and Foundation, National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Which social event is your favorite? Evil Companions at the Oxford Hotel
Favorite restaurant? McCormick’s
Who is the most interesting celebrity you have ever met? Hillary Clinton
If your life were a movie, whom would you want to play your part? Rosalind Russell
Do you have any pets? A four year-old Portuguese water dog, Dr. Freud
When you move, what will your home tell its next owner about you? Eccentric
What word describes you best? Motivated
How would you like others to describe you? Thoughtful, but that’s unlikely
What was your first job? Working for my father at Kanopolis Lake
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Procrastination
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Laziness and lying
What is your greatest indulgence? Going out to dinner at fun restaurants
What is the best gift you have ever given? Love
What is the best gift you’ve received? Love
What or who is the greatest love in your life? John Crawford
What is your current state of mind? Positive
What do you consider your greatest achievement? My family
What is your most treasured possession? My loft at Flour Mill
What is the quality you most like in a man? Humor
What is the quality you most like in a woman? Humor
Favorite books/writers? Hemingway and Jack Kerouac
What is the best advice you have ever received? Don’t take it personally…but I do
Do you have a motto? Onward
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you? Life is tough, nothing is that funny, but I laugh a lot anyway
What are your hobbies? Other interests? Antiques and travel
Who is your mentor? Cile Bach from the Denver Art Museum…now residing in heaven
What would you most like to be remembered for? Saving some of Denver’s built environments
If you could go anywhere and do anything, what would it be? Go to Italy and learn the language
What do you like about the town you live in? People, climate and location
