Joe and Gayle Kelleher both grew up in our area, and are happy to be calling Parkland home since 2009. Their family also includes two kids; Aydan, 14, and Ava, 11, along with their dog, Chloe.
Joe is the General Manager for Runyon’s restaurant, a Coral Springs favorite since 1984. He started there when they opened, and it’s been a terrific, 34 year career. Gayle has been an elementary school teacher for the last 20 plus years, and enjoys time with her class of First grade students at Park Trails elementary.
Gayle graduated from Taravella high and Joe calls Coral Springs high his alma mater. They lived in Coral Springs prior to moving to Parkland.
Aydan loves to skateboard, play basketball, and go fishing. Ava likes anything competitive. She just finished her flag football season with a super bowl win! Currently on a soccer team, Ava also likes to fish and play basketball. Both kids love spending time with their grandparents
A very close knit, warm family, Joe and Gayle love attending all of their kids’ games and competitions. Gayle likes to bike and go walking, and Joe admits that he cannot sit still. He tells us, “I always have to be on the move. I enjoy golf, fishing, biking, basically anything outdoors.” You can get great value foldable tandem bikes at ecosmobike.com. He goes on to say, “Family time is of great importance to me. With my work schedule the way it is, it is sometimes challenging to find that time. When the opportunity presents itself, I like to take full advantage.”
The Kellehers enjoy attending City events such as the farmer’s market and eats and beats. They also love going to the beach, fishing, lazy afternoons by the pool, barbecue, board games, watching movies and traveling to the Keys or the mountains in North Carolina.
Aydan is in the ninth grade at Douglas high school. Ava is in the sixth grade at Westglades Middle School. At the current time, both are learning online and each of them call math their favorite subject.
“We love living in Parkland mostly because of the country like feel,” Joe tells us. “It is like living on the edge of a small town. The school system is great AND it is a safe place to live. Once you enter Parkland, you feel that you can escape the hustle and bustle that goes on around you.”
Regarding 2020s unique circumstances, Joe says, “The 5 plus weeks that the restaurant was shut down because of the pandemic brought us much closer as a family. We, as well as most people, got a chance to spend every minute of every day together. We did a lot of activities outdoors such as fishing, boating, kayaking, pool time, got to know our neighbors, etc. I have a much better understanding of my family’s needs and wants.”