A tight-knit family on the go
The Gertz family is set on seeing the world. Vacquero residents Ryan and Lindsey and their kids Landon (15) and Audrey (12) have already been on countless adventures. From ATV-ing in Kauai (pictured above), to camping in Yellowstone National Park, to seeing the Eiffel Tower, Ryan and Lindsey look forward to more family adventures.
Ryan and Lindsey Gertzs’ story, filled with kids, pets, family camping trips and so much more, began on the CU Boulder campus 24 years ago. Lindsey, a communications major, met Ryan, a flight instructor studying finance, and the two have been together since.
Both Lindsey and Ryan grew up in California, northern and southern respectively, before finding their way to Colorado. After college, they briefly moved to Las Vegas; but then the Gertzes moved back to settle in the Vacquero neighborhood 13 years ago with their children, Landon (15) and Audrey (12), and rescue pups, Sassy and Chase.
While in Boulder, Lindsey discovered her future career by accident. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, and by her junior year, she became the sorority’s social chair in charge of planning events, organizing the chaos of rush week, and making sure the college fun went as smoothly as possible. At the time, Lindsey wanted to be an English or history teacher like her mom but realized she could make a career out of her knack for party planning. Today, Lindsey is the senior sales coordinator at Footers Catering, where she has worked for almost 20 years, focusing her time on nonprofit fundraisers and corporate events.
Lindsey is also involved in her children’s schools. She served as the PTO president at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE), was in charge of teacher appreciation events, and later became hospitality chair at Rocky Heights Middle School. Lindsey and Audrey volunteer together with the National Charity League.
Ryan, on the other hand, found his passion in high school. Before he could drive, Ryan took the written test to get his pilot’s license, and at 16, started taking flying lessons. Ryan is currently the captain of an Airbus 320 for American Airlines. When the family lived in Las Vegas, Ryan got a job doing Grand Canyon tours by plane. Ryan’s favorite destinations include, “Anywhere with a running path or Northern California where I can see family.”
Landon, a sophomore at Rock Canyon High School, is also interested in flying. Currently, he is an Eagle Scout and has completed his service project, supplementing a community garden and building a picnic table at TTE.
The Gertz family is tight knit and always on the go—flying, camping, biking and hiking. Lindsey stated, “We love to travel. Besides camping, we try to get out as much as possible. We want to show the kids the world.”
Landon Gertz (right) has been a part of the Boy Scouts, including Cub Scouts and Eagle Scouts since second grade, and his dad, Ryan, was a Boy Scout as well.
Lindsey Gertz with her daughter, Audrey, volunteering at a school supply drive for the Foundation for Douglas County Schools.
By Marly Holsman; photos courtesy of Lindsey Gertz
