John Daugherty, Realtors’ Gerecht in Paris for million-person march
Although the original plan was simply to enjoy French food and architecture, John Daugherty, Realtors sales associate Betty Gerecht recently found herself among the historic million-person march in support of the victims of the terrorist attack on magazine. Gerecht said the streets were very crowded, but the march was peaceful and she saw several world leaders in attendance.
She spent a week in Paris with her family visiting “lots of museums” including the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay and the L’Orangerie. However, she admits most of her trip was spend trip eating and walking.
“I love French food and I absolutely love walking around the city. I find the architecture there inspiring,” she said. Gerecht is passionate about travel and has already visited more than 30 countries.
••• In what has become an annual office tradition, Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty was proud of a large office turnout for the Chevron Marathon last weekend. Angela Chiang ran the half marathon for the first time.
Laurie King, having run her 10th marathon last year, decided to run only the half marathon because she is on her way to the Boston Marathon in April.
Cathy Scherer also ran the half marathon. First-time runner Ashton Martini finished the full marathon, raising money for Alzheimer’s research in doing so, and is now ready to train for the BP MS 150.
Caroline Allison ran the full marathon, her second Houston marathon and sixth full marathon finish. She posted her best time ever, noting she was particularly encouraged by the crowds cheering the runners on.
Allison said her bucket list goal is to run the original marathon in Athens, Greece.
MTSIR also had agents and staff supporting the runners all over the place. Isabel Dove, agent career development coach and her granddaughters lent support at the 10-mile mark, with agent Peggie Pentecost, while Jay Monroe and others supported along the way. There can be no doubt about the determination of Martha Turner agents to go the distance.
••• Beth Wolff of Beth Wolff Realtors Real Living was one of the mentors selected for a recent program by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Lexxus Mayorga, a senior at Texas A&M, had the opportunity to observe the back office of the business and shadow Wolff.
“It is a privilege to share my experience with young women interested in a career in real estate,” Wolff said.
••• John Daugherty, Realtors’ Jack Swanson and his wife, Kelly, were invited to attend the seventh annual 30A Singer Songwriters Festival in Grayton Beach, Florida this past weekend. Their hosts were Swanson’s dear friends and clients Shelley and David Reeves.
Their weekend included VIP passes as the couples were able to see great artists like Indigo Girls and Graham Nash in more than 20 venues up and down the beach, from Grayton Beach to Rosemary Beach.
••• And finally in the “Mother Knows Best” department — Bernstein Realty’s Laura Heyman Siegel and Andy Perlman were married on Jan. 3. The couple has known each other all their lives, as their parents have been close family friends since Siegel’s mother and Perlman’s father were in middle school at Johnston Junior High in Houston.
While their parents socialized and traveled the world together, the pair was thrown together at family events,. Siegel said she “distinctly remembers playing under the beach house with Perlman “and their siblings and having sand thrown in my mouth.” She still says Perlman did it, but he does not recall it that way.
She went to Memorial High School, he went to Bellaire High School . She even went with him to his senior prom after a “call out of the blue” to invite her. They both went on to The University of Texas. Twenty plus years later, their moms were having lunch and told each other of their children’s divorces and suggested they reconnect. And the rest is history — the couple married in Houston and took their blended family of four children to Maui for a family honeymoon.
Judi Griggs is a writer who lives in Houston in the winter and Buffalo in the summer — because the reverse would be ridiculous. Contact her at realnewshouston@gmail.com or through judigriggs.com.