Kathy Pettit has been a resident here since 2005, having purchased one of the first homes available. After growing up in Torrance, California, she attended junior college and a culinary arts school – evident today in her gourmet cooking skills. Just ask her friends!
But then at age 24, she created a career opportunity that dreams are made of. Kathy and a colleague developed an innovative approach to shipping garments long distances from warehouses to large retailers such as Target. Their efficient, streamlined methods allowed them to establish their own company including two huge warehouses employing over 200 full-time workers. Kathy’s eyes still sparkle when she talks about the experiences she had shepherding the expansion across most southwestern states, She travelled extensively for almost 30 years to ensure quality control and human resource development. In those days, women were not always welcome by the male-dominant industry of truckers and consolidators, but Kathy’s integrity and expertise won their respect. “It was a different culture in those days,” recalls Kathy. “There was no political correctness. You just accepted it the way it was.”
In 1997, she met her husband, John Delaney, who was a scratch golfer and gifted skier. They spent their summers in Aspen, Colorado, and their winters here in Shadow Hills. In the early days of Shadow Hills, Kathy remembers how the small community of residents banded together and supported each other. She finds that spirit of kindness, generosity and sharing still alive here today. She lost John to complications of Covid two years ago, but her friends and neighbors are always there to help her carry on. She speaks warmly of two neighbors, both guys, who stop by whenever they see her garage door open to see if she needs help with anything. She is surprised by how many single women there are here in Shadow Hills.
Kathy started the Niners Golf Club many years ago and is currently involved with the Desert Gardeners Club and Line Dancing. She most appreciates the warmth of this community, the quality of the amenities, and the scope of what our monthly dues cover compared to most other communities. When asked what she would pass on to others, she replied, “Be kind to your neighbors, no matter who they are.”
Written by Marje Burdine, Information Advisory Committee