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Show B-11 The Park Record Profile THE PARK RECORD www.park record.com SAT/SUN/MON/TUES, JUNE 9-12, 2007 clerk doles out grins as well as groceries Tari Van Leeuwen loves to golf with her guys By STEVE PHILLIPS Record contributing ivriter Tari Van Leeuwen is about as friendly a person as you'd want to meet. Regular shoppers at the Quarry Village Albertsorfs brighten when Van Leeuwen offers up a pleasant greeting and a smile at the checkout stand. She's been at the store almost two years, but rose quickly to the role of "key." That means the store is hers at night and she locks the door on her way out. Although she puts in a 40-hour week, the job still plays second fiddle to her family. "That's the most important thing to me," she says. Van Leeuwen was born in Granger, Utah, the third of Sally and Riley Turpin's four daughters. She describes herself as hardworking, friendly, outgoing and very talkative. A confirmed 'Valley' girl, she graduated from Granger High School in 1979. Not surprisingly, the ebullient Van Leeuwen was a member of the "pep" club. "It's kind of sad because Granger doesn't even exist anymore, it's called West Valley City now," she notes with nostalgia. Hers was a close-knit family that enjoyed camping, fishing, boating and skiing together. "I was the only one of the girls who liked to go fishing with Dad," she grins. 'lI helped him fix the cars, stuff like that. I guess I was the son he never had." One of her fondest memories is of careening along the mountain trails on her 'Tote Goat" scooter. Van Leeuwen attended Salt Lake Community College and was a student body officer. The ambitious young woman was bound for a degree in communications when her uncle made her an offer she couldn't.refuse. An orthodontist, he needed a dependable assistant for his practice, someone with good communications skills. She put college on the back burner and went to work. While there she met Jim Van Leeuwen, a young dentist at the clinic. "He needed an assistant for his practice so I started working for him too," she says. One thing led to another. "When you're a dental assistant you're chair-to-chair, knee-toknee, you know," explains Van Leeuwen. "You really gel to know someone and find out pretty quick the kind of person they are. I found out Jim was a great guy." They began dating in 1987 and were married in Salt Lake City a year later. The newlyweds honeymooned in Hawaii and fell in love with the Aloha state. They've vacationed on the islands almost a dozen times since then. The young couple set up housekeeping in Jeremy Ranch and has lived there ever since. Their son. Matt, was born in 1992. Van Leeuwen took on parenting with aplomb and was a stay-at-home mom until Matt was 12 years old. "I wanted to be there when my son came home from school," she says. The Park City lifestyle fits Van Vital Statistics • Favorite things to do.in Park City area: Golf, shop, ski - in that order. • Favorite foods: "I love watermelon. I wish they made watermelon birthday cakes!" I also like good Mexican food and lemon meringue pie. • Pets: Kasper, a seven-year-old schnauzer. "She thinks she's human. Sometimes I think she is too. She's a funny girl." • Favorite type of music: 1970s rock. "Her favorite group is "Styx." • Favorite authors: "I don't have time to read much, I'm too busy working and playing. Sometimes I enjoy a good romance novel." m SARAH AUSEJPARK RECORD Tari Van Leeuwen's heart is where her home is. No matter how hard she works at Albertson's or on the golf course, the wife and mother puts her family first. Leeuwen like a glove. "I call it living in God's country," she enthuses. "You have the fresh air, the beautiful mountains and lakes close by and you can still see the stars at night. It doesn't get any better than Park City." The active wife and mother enjoys boating, water and sriow skiing. "I just like to be outside as much as possible." Golf remains Van Leeuwen's favorite sport. While some husbands and wives use golf as an excuse to get away from the family, the sport has drawn her family together. "We still play as a family on the Jeremy Ranch course sometimes, even though Matt's gotten so much better than his dad and I," she Virginia." she glows. "Matt played against boys from China and says. says. Her son will enter 9th grade next year and is trying out for the She's been involved in Utah England. He wasn't used to playing golf team in August. She's hopeful Junior Golf with her son for sever- on Bermuda grass and that threw that Matt will make the team." al years, initially as a volunteer him off on the first day. I went out Like most veteran Parkites, Van and now as a Board member. with him after his round and Leeuwen cites traffic as her No. 1 Junior golf is a state and national showed him a couple of things. He pet peeve. competitive golf program for boys did better the second day." "We really do have way too and girls from 8 to 18 years of age. The proud mom takes some of much traffic. Trying to get around "I took Matt to a lot of tourna- the blame for his less-than-perfect at Kimball Junction on the weekend is a joke." she complains. ments," she says. "We've played showing. golf all over the state and at "I distracted him on his backOther than that all-too-common regional and national competi- swing during a tee shot and it cost lament, Van Leeuwen has no comtions. him some strokes. I haven't lived plaints about the Park City area. Van Leeuwen bristles with pride that one down yet and he hasn't let "It's just a great place to live, a when she talks about her son's me forget it." great place for a family." accomplishments in the competiVan Leeuwen believes golf tive junior golf program. "He rep- builds character in young men and Steve Phillips is a Park City-based resented Utah at the International women. "It teaches discipline, writer, actor and balloon championship in Williamsburg, sportsmanship and honesty," she pilot/instructor. Has Your Realtor Skown You These? THREE GREAT COLONY LOTS 170 WHITE PINE CANYON ROAD This 11.15 acre homestead boasts a rare combination of views, privacy, sun and ski access. Bounded on the uphill side by open space and ski runs, it also possesses wonderful down-valley views to the Uintas and Iron Mountain. It is surrounded by a beautiful Fir and Aspen forest, yet basks in abundant sunshine. Step into your skis.or snowboard and you are instantly enjoying first tracks on some of the best terrain. OFFERED AT $2,195,000. , an Agent. rind your Home. 177 WHITE PINE CANYON ROAD Beautiful, mature Aspens grace this 5-02 acre homestead and frame 270° down-valley, Iron Mountain and Pine Cone Ridge views. Outstanding ski-in/out access and very good sun exposure throughout the day. Convenient access to a proposed colony private hiking trail. OFFERED AT $1,795,000 \w 108 WHITE PINE CANYON ROAD PREMIERE COLONY RIDGE LOT ON TWO SKI RUNS Perched on the ridge, this home site has commanding Iron Mountain, Uinta and Valley views and abundant sunshine. Tremendous ski-in/out access to either Twilight or Alpenglow ski runs. 6.87 acres. PRICED AT $2,995,000 In cooperation with the Park City Board of Realtors, you can now access a fully searchable database through our website of any home currently listed! Just log on to www.parkrecord.com and click on the on-line Real Estate section. Under no uncertain terms will the Park Record sell the Park City MLS to any other business or entity. As a viewer of the Park Record website, the viewer does not have permission to use this information for anything other than the purpose for which it is intended, (to research real estate in the Park City area.) GREAT SILVER LAKE LOCATION Ski to/from on Homestake Run. 2 Bedroom, 2 Bach with approximately 1,900 squarefeet.Townhouse floor plan with 2 car garage. Light and bright soudvfacing windows. Offered fully furnished. Great rental or second home. Please call Dick Stoner for showing. OFFERED at $1,100,000 With over 60 years of combined experience in Park Cicy, our sales team offers you a quality and successful Real Estate transaction. Whether you are selling your property or a new buyer to the market, we look forward to helping you achieve your Real Estate goals. www.TkeColonywpc.com* Office 435.649.34.11 • Fax 435.658.004.9 Utah Real Estate \- h P rn L-.'-;-H;-'',0>-:-; r in,-;---1 2200 Saddleview Drive, Bldg. B Park City, UT 84068 800.553.4666 |