Long before Norton Commons became the vibrant neighborhood it is today, Kim and Dan Schneidau could see themselves building a life here. The two were focused on NoCo in its earliest stages, when it was little more than a concept left to the imagination. Back then, the couple would often drive through the gravel streets that would become the first phases of the South Village, picturing front porches, neighbors, a walkable community, and dreaming of moving in.

Before those curious drives, Dan grew up in Edgewood, KY, and Kim in Henderson, and both would choose UofL to advance their education. Their paths first knowingly crossed at a Halloween party in Miller Hall when they were undergrad students. Kim, a freshman Poly-Sci major, was dressed head to toe in leopard print and face paint, so when Dan, a sophomore mechanical engineering student, ran into her days later he almost didn’t recognize her.

Each went on to graduate, after which life pulled them in different directions, though both remained in the city. While still undergraduates, Dan Cooper and Kim worked for the UofL football program under Coach Schnellenberger. Down the road, the two would cross paths again at a Super Bowl party. This time, the friendship grew from like to love and the two were married.

After Dan graduated with his master’s degree, the couple relocated to Michigan, where he began his career with Ford Motor Company. Kim’s master’s degree in teaching would come later, after they returned to Louisville.

After a stint in Kansas City with Ford, the Schneidaus returned to Louisville. In the summer of 2008, they took only 9 minutes to put in an offer on their Featherbell home, and they soon moved into Norton Commons with their daughters, Ellen and Kate. As some of the earliest residents, the girls were among the original five JCPS students in NoCo, prompting the expansion of bus service.

As a family, the Schneidaus are happiest sharing experiences. Since their girls were young, Disney World has been a favorite destination. One memory stands out from years past: a Christmas spent camping at Fort Wilderness, where Santa successfully found their festively decorated camper. On Christmas morning, Ellen and Kate awoke to the magic of presents under a Disney-themed tree before heading off to the Magic Kingdom for a holiday unlike any other, and one that lasts in their memories to this day. On one of their many Disney trips, they discovered Celebration, FL. It became a home away from home when traveling to Orlando and is affectionately referred to as “Norton Commons South.”

Those memories seem like yesterday, but time has passed, and their daughters have grown. Both followed in Dan’s footsteps to attend UofL’s Speed School in pursuit of engineering degrees and would go on to build impressive careers and families of their own. Today, Ellen lives in Carrollton, TX, with her husband Mitch and daughters Charlotte (5) and Emilia (2). Like Dan, Ellen works for Ford, putting her chemical engineering degree to good use. Kate, her husband Jack, and their daughter Rayleigh (2) also live out of state, but much closer in West Chester, OH. Kate is an adjunct instructor of mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati and is in the process of building an additive manufacturing consulting firm. Kim and Dan are incredibly proud of their daughters and are over the moon as grandparents to three precious granddaughters.

Life has slowed down only slightly for Kim and Dan now that their daughters are off raising their own families. Kim teaches at Male High School with a student and community-centered focus. She co-sponsors the Class of 2026, is busy planning prom and graduation-related events, and is slated to teach Psychology and AP Cybersecurity next fall. After many years of teaching and her ties to athletics, Kim enjoys following her student athletes through college and, for some, the pros. Dan retired after 30 years with Ford and keeps active through interests such as racing and aviation. He races Ford Mustangs and Harleys with much success and earned his pilot’s license in 2021. Passionate about aviation and engineering, he is building a Vans RV-10 airplane, which will bring new travel possibilities for the couple.

Norton Commons continues to anchor Kim and Dan. The neighborhood they once dreamed of and now enjoy as empty nesters resonates as much now as it did then. They love walking or taking their golf cart to restaurants, pools, and church. Supporting local businesses, attending neighborhood events, and welcoming visiting grandchildren to splash in the pools are all part of how the Schneidaus stay connected. Over the years, they’ve watched the neighborhood expand and evolve while friendships deepened. Neighbors on the block have become extended family, many of whom have been together for 18 years and are fondly referred to by Kim as “Grandparent Row.”

There are layers to their story that surprise even these longtime friends. Dan is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone and has traced his ancestry back to 16th-century European mercenaries who would take the Prussian village name of Schneidau as their own. Kim spent 16 years volunteering with the Daniel Pitino Foundation, working behind the scenes in athletics and media, leading to experiences that had her rubbing elbows with local and national household names from Junior Bridgeman and Peyton Siva to Johnny Unitas and Muhammad Ali. Kim shares, “You never know when or where you will get the chance to have unique opportunities; be willing to say yes.”

Through it all, the Schneidaus embody the heart of a family-centered community: rooted in shared history, open to adventure, and deeply grateful for the place they call home. Norton Commons is more than an address for Kim and Dan—it’s the setting for a life well lived and promises of new experiences and memories to come.