7
The Independent 7
May 30, 2013
Realtor helps handle a house divided Rogliano recognized for work with women getting divorced By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com Joan Rogliano considers women like herself to be metaphorical wildflowers. “We’re survivors, and we bloom where we’re planted,” said Rogliano, a Littletonbased real-estate agent. “And we’re all different sizes and shapes and ages.” About 15 years ago, Rogliano found herself in the middle of a “very conflicted” divorce. Fortunately, her career had prepared her to deal with what would happen to the house. Unfortunately, she says, not all women are so lucky. “They were getting bad information and being bullied into selling when they didn’t want to sell,” she said. “Honestly, that made me really mad.”
So three years ago she started Wildflower Women’s Foundation in Centennnial to provide scholarships, legal advice and financial advocacy to women going through divorce or who have been widowed. It grew out of informal workshops that were growing ever more popular. “I just kept getting these arrows that this was bigger than I could support by myself,” she said. So she got a bunch of corporate grants and a board made up of people who could and wanted to help. “Divorce takes a team,” she said. “But we’re all working together for the person who is going through this. None of us can do this alone.” That work is paying off. Realtor magazine and the Good Neighbor Society recently named Rogliano one of just five “Volunteering Works” recipients in the country. The program matches Realtors who work on small-scale charitable efforts with mentors and awards them grant money. Win-
ners are selected based on their dedication to the community and the potential for their charitable work to be expanded or improved. Rogliano’s mentor is 2003 Good Neighbor Claudia Deprez of Illustrated Properties Real Estate in West Palm Beach, Fla. They’ll work together to increase the foundation’s visibility and build a stronger network of professionals to support women. “Our goal is to take it national,” she said, as the need is expanding, particularly given the numbers of divorcing baby boomers. “It’s usually the women who are filing, and their needs are really different,” she said. “The kids are gone, and they thought they’d be retiring soon and that there were all these assets, and then they find out there are no assets because they weren’t paying attention.” Rogliano says older women often don’t
want to keep the house because they don’t want the maintenance hassles or they’d simply rather have the money. Younger women with children, however, usually want the continuity and stability of their own neighborhood. Often they think — or they’re told — that they won’t be able to afford the payments or qualify to refinance. Rogliano says their renewed confidence once they realize they can is amazing to see. “The women really bloom and go on to do some really terrific things,” she said. Although the foundation has helped as many as 100 women in a month, Rogliano estimates it’s only reaching about 5 percent of the women it could help locally. “We know they’re out there, and if they’d just apply for money, we have it sitting in the bank,” she said. For more information on receiving services or how to help, visit wildflowerwomensorganization.org or call 303-952-5063.
Beloved Joe Guennel left big mark in area Scientist was driving force in Colorado soccer By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com Littleton’s beloved Joe Guennel, who died May 13, touched the lives of thousands of soccer-playing boys and girls — and their parents — over half a century, while also conducting serious scientific research. After he retired, he wrote and illustrated two handsome volumes on Colorado’s wildflowers. In 1961, Guennel came to work at Marathon Oil Co. as a palynologist (a scientist who studies spores and pollen). In addition to building an international reputation in science, with more than 30 papers published, he became known as the “Father of Colorado Soccer” and had involvements in the sport across the nation. He worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee for 12 years. Born in Oelsnitz, Germany, Guennel moved to the United States with his family in 1934 at the age of 13. In high school, he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in botany from Butler University in Indiana, served in the Army Reserve, then served in the the U.S. Army from 1943-45 in Germany, France and Austria. He returned to Germany as a civilian employee, where he met and married Hilde Lang in 1947. She died before he did. Guennel worked for the Indiana Geological Survey and received his Ph.D. from Indiana University, where he started a soccer program that now is at the top nationwide, according to former Marathon colleague and fellow soccer enthusiast Hossein Kazemi. When Guennel joined Marathon in Littleton in 1961, he met John Meyer, a Dutch man who advocated a junior soccer program for the area and was eager to start it, although he had not played as a child. Meyer was transferred out of state in two years, but Guennel was hooked. Kazemi, now a Castle Rock resident and faculty member at Colorado School of Mines, said Guennel recruited him when he joined Marathon as a 30-year-old scientist — and Kazemi is still coaching more than 40 years later. Kazemi estimates that there may be as many as 70,000 boys and girls playing soccer in the Colorado Youth Soccer Association. “He had a tremendous amount of influence — I can’t say enough about it,” Kazemi said. When Guennel started his organization, he had to do it all: lining up fields, ordering
‘He had a tremendous amount of influence — I can’t say enough about it.’ Hossein Kazemi balls from the east, coaching, officiating, fundraising, holding clinics and more. He also encouraged European teams to play in Denver so families could watch the pros. Initially, he was not allowed to pound goalposts into the ground in Denver, since the sport was so little respected and authorities did not want to damage the grass. Guennel convinced school boards to include the sport — the Centennial League accepted it as a varsity sport in 1968 and the Colorado High School Activities Association sanctioned it in 1971. Guennel later found time to help programs start in Ohio, Montana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame website about him. Intercollegiate teams and two semi-pro teams are now on the scene in Colorado. Guennel was elected to three different Halls of Fame: Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, Colorado Soccer Hall of Fame and U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame. When Guennel retired, he intensified his study of the flora of Colorado — painting, photographing collecting and cataloging slides and specimens. He wrote and illustrated a user-friendly two-volume “Guide to Colorado Wildflowers,” with watercolor paintings and photographs of each variety. Many local friends enjoyed mountain hiking with this energetic man. Guennel married Inge Holmgren on April 19, 2010, and continued to live in Littleton, still visiting soccer games when possible. He gained a stepdaughter, Janine Holmgren, with whom he established a warm connection, as he told her about German heritage. Inge said her husband also taught a number of local kids to ski in earlier days, including a young Bill McKinnell Jr., who said Joe and Hilde were like a second set of parents to him. They recall trips to the mountains in Guennel’s Volkswagen, almost choking on the smoke from his oftenpresent cigar. Burial was at Fort Logan Cemetery, and friends gathered to share stories about Joe Guennel, although there was no formal service, in keeping with his wishes.
GET SOCIAL WITH US Colorado Community Media wants to share the news. Check us out on these social media websites: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin. Search for Colorado Community Media.
Approximately 20 abandoned donkeys were recently tranported to the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center nearF ranktown. Courtesy photo
Donkeys rescued after being dumped 20 animals abandoned on national grassland Staff report The Colorado Humane Society & SPCA assisted the Otero County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service to gather approximately 20 donkeys that were abandoned on the Comanche National Grassland by their owner. With the help of several agencies, the donkeys were gathered and CHS transported them to the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center near Franktown. “First and foremost, the forest service and our agents wish to thank the Picket Wire Canyonlands permittees for their help in resolving the situation,” said Katrina Schou, chief investigator for the Colorado Humane Society. “No matter the circumstance, there is no excuse for abandoning and neglecting
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN:
Pediatric Dermatology, Skin Cancer, Mohs Surgery, Acne, Warts, Rashes, Cysts, Skin Growths, Mole Removal, Face & Leg Veins, Retin-A, Renova, Botox®, JuvedermTM, Restylane®, Microdermabrasion, Laser Hair Removal, Fraxel, Intense Pulsed LightTM (IPL), Scanlite, Varilite and Chemical Peels.
these animals. Owners need to find alternative placement for these animals if they cannot be cared for any longer.” The donkeys’ owner, a Crowley County man, will face charges of animal abandonment, in addition to federal charges for dumping the animals on public land. “As more and more donkeys are abandoned or neglected, an added burden is placed on shelters and rescues across Colorado,” said Duane Adams, director of the Colorado Humane Society. “Now, more than ever, we are encouraging people who can afford the cost of care to look at adopting donkeys.” For donkey-specific adoption information or for general information about the current state of donkeys in Colorado, contact Kathy Dean, CEO of Longhopes Donkey Shelter, at 303-644-5930. For more information about the Colorado Humane Society, contact Amie Cavarra at 303-358-5452 or Chris Gallegos at 303419-1162.
IPL For Sun Spots, Redness, Hyperpigmentation & Photo Damaged Skin, Helps Enhance Collogen Levels
MAY speciAl % FEE REDUCTION
10
www.AdvAdERm.cOm Find us on Facebook.
On Botox, Restylane and Juvederm.
SATURDAY AND EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
A DVA N C E D D E R M ATO LO G Y S K I N C A N C E R & L A S E R S U R G E R Y C E N T E R , P. C . 12645 EAST EUCLID DRIVE • CENTENNIAL, CO 80111 • 303.493.1910
Dr. Gregory G. Papadeas • Dr. James T. Chapman I L L A S• Dr.EDarlene R HS. Johnson A I R• Dr. Sean Amsbaugh • Dr. Steven A. Brenman A P R
Dr. Elizabeth Swanson •A Dr. Jamie • Dr. Jennifer A. Ray• Dr. Paul J. Grant • Dr. Roger I. Ceilley L G Surovik • Dr. Brendan R EJ. O’Neill MO VA L . . . S P E C I
%
FEE
FACE • NECK • ARMS • LEGS
PR E
Pedia
M Mohs Su Rashes, C