Early in her 40-year career in manufacturing, marketing and management with global companies, Deirdre Evens set priorities: her work, her family, herself.
She realized she had little time to give to her friends and community.
Deirdre Evens, in the 1982 Staples yearbook.
In the Boston area and then Singapore, she kept up as best she could with friends from Westport, where she’d lived from third grade through Staples High graduation in 1982.
She looked forward to retirement, when she would have more time for friends, and civic involvement.
Her husband, Brad Kullberg, knew she wanted that community to be — again — Westport. He grew up in Rhode Island, but was familiar with Westport from visits with Deirdre to her family here.
They found a great house on Morningside Drive, half a mile from her childhood home. The couple moved in a year ago.
Can you go home again? Deirdre says, emphatically: Yes!
And can her husband find a home in a new community like this? Also, yes.
From the Y’s Men to the Patterson Club, they’re having an “incredible” time, Deirdre says.
Her perspective has changed, of course. She’s a retired adult with grown children — not a high school student with her whole life ahead.
Deirdre Evens, at Greens Farms Elementary School.
Clearly, she notes, Westport today is not the town of 1982. She misses the Remarkable Book Shop, Klein’s, Ships, Bill’s Smoke Shop. Traffic is “ridiculous.” Sirens sound frequently.
But so much more (including the restaurants) are so much better.
Between rediscovering old joys and stumbling on new ones, life in Westport has exceeded her expectations.
And Deirdre marvels at how quickly she and Brad were able to adapt.
Within weeks they met a broad group of people with common interests, at a similar stage of life. Old friends who still live in the area introduced them to new ones.
All were eager to share what they love about their community.
Brad and Deirdre don’t spend all their time in Westport. New York draws them in at least once a week, for museums and shows. Her parents had taken her to the city often while growing up. But the New York of 2025 dazzles them.
So does the Westport of 2025. Kayak rentals on the Saugatuck River, the Library, Levitt Pavilion, Farmers’ Market — and other gems in Fairfield, Rowayton and the rest of the area — keep the couple constantly active.
Deirdre Evens and her husband, Brad Kullberg, in Vietnam.
Deirdre speaks as a retiree. But many of her neighbors are young families. They tell her how much they enjoy raising their children here. They share her enthusiasm about the array of activities, and welcoming vibe.
Before their move, Deirdre wondered if their kids — she has 2 in New York, and one returning to the States from Israel; he has 3 in the Boston area — would want to visit in the suburbs.
“They love coming here!” she reports. In fact, Brad’s daughter recently got married in their Westport yard.
Deirdre is still figuring out how to get more involved, in organizations like Wakeman Town Farm.
She does not want to run for office, but hopes to find a way to have an impact on how the town is run.
Deirdre Evens, today.
Her advice to older people considering a move here: “Don’t stress out about the ease of joining — or rejoining — the community.
“There are so many ways to engage: the Westport Woman’s Club, Y’s Men, book groups, boating, mahjong, golf, gardening. It’s easy, and the people are so welcoming.
“Explore online before you come. If you have connections, make an effort to re-connect.
“And ask questions. Our realtor was great!”
Meredith Cohen found Deirdre and Brad a home.
In a town that Deirdre definitely could go home again to.
(“06880” often reports on Westport life — for and about people of all ages. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Just curious where on Morningside do they live? I was at 114 South Morningside Drive. Including the price of the property, and building the house, it cost $40,000 dollars.
Brad, Welcome to Westport….check out the Y’s Men…a great organization of retired men from Westport/Weston. Great speakers and lots and lots of activities.
https://www.ysmenwestportweston.org/
Baxter Urist,
Past President Y’s Men
Love this update from HS classmate Deirdre!
Deirdre, Welcome back! Another Staples Class of 1982 back in Westport…..Off the top of my head there are now around 15 of us back here in town…..
John
I don’t quite understand how you can go home again when the houses cost millions of dollars?
Don’t move to Westport unless you are a committed liberal. Sorry but that is just a fact. So many crazy liberals in town that it’s hard to take, unless you align with them. Was a great town, now overrun with people with severe cases of TDS.
Deirdre, welcome back from another classmate and Westport returnee. (I wonder whether we lived in Singapore at the same time.) It has been terrific reconnecting with old friends like John, Dan, and many others. My experience coming home brings to mind TS Eliot’s famous lines: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
I took the time to Google Deirdre and Brad. They have everything to be proud of personally and professionally and I wish them the very best. I think, however, that it would be more correct for Dan’s headline to have said that: “You can go home again (but only to visit unless you can afford a $5.5MM home on Hillandale Rd. otherwise, Bridgeport is only eight miles away. Fairfield has a very nice beach that they will allow non-residents to use).”
Thank you EB ’70…their move was 18+ months ago?
What exactly was the purpose of this story and who initiated it?
Pure supposition on my part: slow news day (is there any other kind in 06880?). It’s Dan’s blog so he gets the credit (or the blame depending on your POV). On the plus side: CVS has been vanquished!!!!
The purpose of “06880” is to provide news, features, photos, upcoming events, looks back, and random other stuff about the town.
I write about affordable housing, the environment, local politics, education, religion, restaurants, and much more.
I also write human interest stories: what Staples graduates have accomplished, what new arrivals find when they get here, and what life is like, in all corners of the town.
I found it intriguing that, after 40 years, Deirdre wanted to return here (and that her husband, not from Westport, was up for it). I loved her enthusiasm for where she had grown up, her ease of coming back after 4 decades, the fact that many classmates and old friends are still here, and the many ways she and her husband got involved.
It is one of many stories I have posted about life in Westport, through the eyes of residents. All have different perspectives; all are valid.
I initiated it, Amy, after speaking with Deirdre at the Wakeman Town Farm Harvest Fest, and being excited by her excitement. I’m not sure why you need to ask that question.
And Eric, if you’re ever up for an interview on why someone who moved away nearly 50 years ago still feels so attached to the town that he feels the need to comment incessantly on a place he no longer lives in, and about people he does not know, I’m happy to chat for that story too.
No need for an interview. It’s simple. I afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. You graciously provide the venue.
Thank you Dan.