- Resident Story
Mary Ann and Joe Curra
Meet Mary Ann & Joe Curra
Mary Ann and Joe have three children together; two sons and a daughter. One lives in Virginia, and the other two are fairly close in Santa Barbara and San Diego. Joe, himself, has three kids from a former relationship, also two boys and one girl, who are now living in Hawaii, Denver, and Colorado. Together, the couple can claim fourteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren!
When asked why they chose to live at Chateau La Jolla, they both agree that it has everything that they were looking for. Both of them describe Chateau as an intimate place that’s very close to the ocean.
Meet Mary Ann Curra
An inevitable part of military life is moving often. And, with a father who was a five star major general in the army, Mary Ann was no stranger to this. In fact, she grew up in 18 different houses before she turned 21. As an adult, Mary Ann has lived in far-flung corners of the world, from Germany to Panama and France to even Belgium.
More About Mary
After receiving her BS degree in mathematics from William and Mary College, Mary Ann went to work developing documentation and training materials for computer systems and their applications. Although this is what she did professionally, her advocation is genealogy.
She focused on tracking the first person from each bloodline to come to America. And, along the way, she learned that her lineage led back to ten countries, encompassing six different religions. Mary Ann also makes a hobby of refinishing furniture. From doing brass rubbings to buying unappreciated junk, she loves turning it into lovely antiques.
Meet Joe Curra
Joe’s grandfather was a farmer who invested his hard earned money into his son’s education. Joe’s father graduated from Harvard Law School with a law degree and started a business in re-insurance during the great depression. Joe was born in Iowa, and later, his father sent him to Shattuck Military Academy in Fairbault, Minnesota. Looking back, Joe remembers that one of his classmates was a phenomenal actor. In fact, he was so talented he starred in a one man show, which Joe helped produce. Unfortunately, the talented young actor was later kicked out of the academy for smoking, and never graduated. Interestingly, that actor was Marlon Brando.
More About Joe
Joe went on to study at Penn State, where he received his Masters degree in Marine geology. In 1953, he went on to work at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography as a graduate student… and never left. Later, he received his doctorate in Marine geology and has published over 200 papers.
When not teaching or writing, Joe’s a beekeeper, something he grew to love after gifting his son a beehive for Christmas one year. In fact, he likes it so much he has been doing it for 50 years.
How They Met
Joe and Mary Ann met while out running, and have been married for 36 years as of this February. Although they come from different walks of life, there was a lot of commonality, running was only one of many things. They participated in everything from half marathons to marathons and triathlons, until Joe turned 80.
Whether traveling, running or simply having a conversation, their love will last for a lifetime. In Mary Ann’s words, everything is important but love is, number one. Read more about their love story, La Jolla Light: Love of their lives: La Jolla seniors share stories of romance.
Affordable Coastal Living Community
Take advantage of La Jolla’s Cultural abundance. The wonderful restaurants, the diversity of people. The beautiful parks and beaches. The fresh air and mild year-round weather, combined with great dining, a diverse culture, and a community that is as organic as it surroundings, can be yours at Chateau La Jolla. No costly entrance fees, just affordable coastal living. Call us today at (858) 459-4451 to book a tour of our property.
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