Jewelry Designs: Their Story

Bob and Karen Underhill, owners of Jewelry Designs on Mill Plain Road in Danbury, recently sat down with Marie Borner, a Coldwell Banker realtor, three-time cancer survivor and a Festival of Trees leadership board member.  The discussion centered on their donations this year to Festival of Trees and the question naturally arose as to why this successful couple has been lending extraordinary support to the Festival of Trees for 11 years with diamond giveaways.   Why Festival?  Why Ann’s Place?

The answers came easily, but first their love story has to be told. Bob and Karen met at 16 while camping in New Hampshire in 1974.  She lived in Bridgeport and Bob was a Danbury kid.  It was the summer of being love-struck, against the backdrop of Nixon resigning, the Patty Hearst kidnap, with Elton John’s Bennie & the Jets topping the charts. Back home in Connecticut, 30 miles separated the pair.

Bob was a student at Danbury High School and knew he needed a job to afford the commute to see Karen.  He quickly found a job and an unexpected mentor in the late John Addessi at his jewelry store on Main Street.  Bob ultimately found a life’s career with that early training.  He and Karen opened their own jewelry business in 1980, which she supported with her work as a nurse, until she joined the business full time in 1984.  They lived in a tiny apartment within their original store on Mill Plain Road.  By 1987, they designed their permanent store and created a landmark business that thrives today.  Along the way, Robert III and Lindsay came along and both are now full time associates in the business.

When you speak with Bob and Karen, you almost expect to hear them finish each other sentences; there is such an aura of affection.  Life has not always been a smooth road since they met.  Both of their mothers suffered from breast cancer.  Prior to Karen’s mom’s passing, she fought the disease with optimism and strength for 24 years.  Which brings us full circle to: why Ann’s Place?

Bob’s response:  “How can we not do this?  Ann’s Place is in our backyard, here in Danbury.  Your clients are our customers.  They come in and talk about the good experiences they have from Ann’s Place.  We have to believe in what we are sponsoring, this cancer cause and how you tackle it, this Festival that funds it.  No one does it better – we know from talking to people.  What attracts us the most is the sense of community Ann’s Place has fostered.  You bring people together with this Festival.”  Karen chimes in: “We are proud to be part of it; in fact, our staff cannot wait to go shopping at Festival each year.  And when someone with cancer needs support, Ann’s Place is a wonderful option. ”

This year, the Festival of Trees will be raffling off a pair of earrings from Jewelry Designs.  In addition, the Underhill’s are donating a raffle gift certificate and two one-half carat diamonds with stunning clarity for the popular Digging for Diamonds contest, a concept that jewelry raffle chair Marie Borner first suggested to them eleven years ago.  Festival runs November 19 through Sunday the 22^nd at the Matrix Banquet & Conference Center. Check times at www.annsplace.org for reservation events. General public days are Friday and Sunday 10 to 4pm, and Saturday 10 to 7pm.