Recently, Jeanne and Steve Boutilier departed their home in sunny Florida and moved to Yankee Trace. Although the Sunshine State is a beautiful place to live, it couldn’t compare to what Centerville has to offer. Their roots are here, and three of their five grandchildren are also here.

 

The original owners of a Yankee Trace home on Vintage Lake in the early 2000s, Steve and Jeanne purchased a home in the neighborhood—this time on Eagle Run Drive—this past April. “We decided to move back here after retiring to Destin, FL, and realizing how much of our grandchildren's lives we were missing,” Jeanne shares. “Having lived in Yankee Trace once before, we decided that with the maturity of the trees and the beauty of the golf course and surroundings, Centerville was the only place we wanted to be.”

 

The couple, who adores the community’s amenities—from golfing and walking to swimming—shares their home with Gracie, their 14-year-old Maltese poodle. The empty nesters raised two children: son Bill and his wife, Ashley, live in Carmel, IN, with their two kids, and daughter Renée and her husband, Scott, live in Centerville with their three kids. Bill works in insurance and annuities, and Ashley teaches high school history. Renée is a teacher and intervention specialist at Primary Village South in Centerville, as well as the varsity coach for the Centerville High School gymnastics team. Scott is an educator at Kettering High School and an assistant football coach at the University of Dayton.

 

Originally from upstate New York, Jeanne and Steve met while in college in the 1970s. “The drinking age was 18 then, and I worked full-time as a bartender to pay for my schooling,” Jeanne reflects. She adds, with a chuckle, “Steve was in a local fraternity and frequented the bar because of the discounts I provided.” The bar scene marked the beginning of a great relationship, and the lovebirds are now celebrating 43 years of marriage. “I wouldn't change a thing—well, maybe a thing, but not too many things,” Jeanne jokes.

 

Steve attended Clarkson College (now Clarkson University) in Potsdam, NY, and graduated with a degree in industrial engineering. Jeanne earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the State University of New York (SUNY) Potsdam. Steve went on to become a vice president and sales director for companies specializing in HVAC, generators, and electric motors. Jeanne worked part-time jobs in real estate, banking, and mortgage, but her favorite career was her family and children. Her titles included mom, volunteer, and move coordinator—the family lived in seven states and 14 different homes due to mergers and acquisitions. She later became a registered medical assistant in pediatrics, internal medicine, and walk-in care.

 

Jeanne and Steve’s travel currently revolves around family. “We spend time renting vacation houses together on special occasions and get together locally now that we are in Ohio,” they note. They enjoy beaches (like St. George Island, FL) and cruises, and they fondly recall a memorable New Year's trip to Australia. And when the two of them relax at home, they cherish their Yankee Trace surroundings. “Our favorite outdoor space is overlooking the golf course and enjoying the sunrises, sunsets, and the sounds of nature,” Steve reports.

 

Although Jeanne is still settling back into the community, she looks forward to getting to know her neighbors and becoming involved. In previous neighborhoods, she has held several leadership roles, including HOA representative and two-year president in a suburb of Nashville, TN. She also served on the board of the Twin Eagles neighborhood association in Indiana, a pool board in St. Louis, and even as a historic zoning commissioner in Nolensville, TN. “I enjoy public service and truly look forward to getting involved here, too.”

 

As the Boutiliers bid a fond farewell to the white sands of Destin, they’re embracing a new chapter in Yankee Trace—surrounded by family, familiar faces, and the comforts of home. They are, indeed, right where they want to be.