With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, what better time to revisit a heartwarming story from The Compass archives? Originally published in the February/March 2003 issue, this tale of unexpected romance reminds us that community connections can lead to more than just friendships. Whether it was fate or simply the magic of Cameron Station, Ana and Frank’s love story is proof that volunteering can bring people together in the most surprising ways.
Read on for a charming look back at how love found its way 💕
Love Is Where You Find It
By Pat Sugrue
For those of you out there still toying with the idea of volunteering for one of the Cameron Station committees—weighing the benefits to your soul and our community against the commitment of your energy and time—here’s a little story that might help you make up your mind.
On January 8, the Communications Committee held its regular monthly meeting. It was probably one of the best we’ve had—great attendance, lots of discussion, much accomplished and everything wrapped up in an hour and a half. Well, almost everything.
As the formal business drew to a close, Ana Villamil, acting chairperson, extended her left hand over the conference table, flashed a diamond as radiant as her smile, and announced that she and Frank Kelly, another committee member and chairperson of the WebTech Subcommittee, had just gotten engaged! We were all thrilled, naturally—they are terrific people. But what added a twist to this wonderful news was the disclosure that Ana and Frank had attended the same college, the same graduate school, were even in the same engineering program, but had never met until they moved to Cameron Station. They bought houses practically back-to-back and wound up volunteering on the same committee the year they moved in. And, well, you know the rest of the story.
Fate? Chance? The ultimate reward for community spirit?
Now, we certainly don’t mean to imply that volunteering for one of the committees will result in your finding true love...
Or do we?
Pat Sugrue is an original owner, moving to Cameron Station with her husband Tom in the fall of 1999. She was a member of the first Compass Crew, and later served as Editor-in-Chief for nine years. Pat’s professional career was in advertising – 30+ years in ad agencies in every department except art (no talent at all!); but her favorite position was copywriter, which she felt made a good fit for The Compass.
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