At first glance, Chuck and Kathie Neuenschwander might appear to be a typical-retired couple enjoying their days in the peaceful setting of Blackhawk. But take a closer look, and you’ll discover a pair of unstoppable adventurers who have spent decades capturing the world through a camera lens — and living with remarkable curiosity, resilience, and a sense of humor.
Their story began in 1967 at a copy machine in the Monsanto Company office in St. Louis. That chance meeting sparked a journey that has spanned almost six decades, dozens of countries, and countless memories. Married in 1972, they soon moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, then back to St. Louis before landing in Dallas, where they would spend 41 years raising their family. One of their earliest dating memories perfectly reflects their spirit: floating down the Current River in a canoe, only to have Chuck accidentally trigger a cascade of daddy-long-legs spiders dropping onto them.
“We had to laugh about it then — what else can you do?” Kathie says, laughing even now.
Originally from Minneapolis (Kathie) and a small village in Ohio (Chuck), they both began careers in the growing world of information technology in the late 1960s. Kathie later chose to stay home to raise their children, while Chuck built his career
in the semiconductor industry, moving from IT management to corporate finance and eventually helping monetize patents. Chuck’s expertise has helped secure more than 75 licenses and over $350 million in royalties for his clients. “Helping individual inventors and small or medium-sized enterprises protect and benefit from their inventiveness is a prerequisite to fund future leaps in technology,” says Chuck.
Yet it’s their shared love of photography and travel that has truly defined their lives. Together they’ve explored more than 75 countries, including Antarctica, capturing street scenes, landscapes, and night images that have won juried competitions. Chuck even had a breathtaking photo of the aurora borealis featured by National Geographic. “There’s just something about chasing the light,” he says, “that never gets old.”
Of course, not every adventure goes as planned. One of Kathie’s most unforgettable moments came
during a trip to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, when she discovered a naked man sleeping in a hotel elevator at 5 a.m. “I’ve learned to expect the unexpected,” she says with a grin.
While they loved discovering the world, their greatest joy comes from family. Their son Erik, Senior Director of Privacy at Apple, and his wife Sonya have made their home on the West Coast, while daughter Bryn — a published fantasy novelist
who writes under the name Marie Brennan — moved to California with her husband Kyle. Their two grandsons round out a close-knit family who all live within a mile and a half of each other on the peninsula.
During the pandemic, Chuck stood on a beach with Erik in Half Moon Bay and had a moment of clarity: “We could live like this,” he told Erik. Soon after, Bryn pressed them with a heartfelt question: “Why do the two of you want to stay in Dallas? We’re all out here.”
Six months later, they had wrapped up their affairs in Texas and arrived in California in August 2021, right in the middle of a challenging housing market. After looking at 47 houses, they bid on their first — right here in Blackhawk — and moved in February 2022. Chuck jokes that they moved for “the cheaper housing and lower taxes,” but in truth, it was all about family and quality of life. “It just felt right to be closer to everyone,” Kathie adds.
Settled now on Buttonwood Drive, they have no regrets. “We love everything about living in the East Bay and Blackhawk,” Chuck says. Kathie stays active in the Blackhawk Women’s Club, and together they continue to support their grandsons’ soccer and flag football games. They also still root for their favorite sports teams — Kathie cheering for the Minnesota Gophers and Chuck for the Ohio State Buckeyes — while sharing loyalty for the Dallas Cowboys and Stars.
Even as they explore closer to home, their passports are never too far away. They plan trips that stretch for five to six weeks at a time, eager to discover new places and capture them on camera. “There’s still so much out there to see,” Chuck says.
Carpe vinum — seize the wine — as Chuck likes to say. It’s a playful motto for a couple who have truly seized every opportunity to explore, experience, and celebrate together. And now, here in Blackhawk, they’ve found a community to match their adventurous spirit and zest for living.
By Megan Scott, Resident since 2010
Photos Courtesy of Neuenschwander Family