Steamboat Today: Routt County Spotlight: Jill Ruppel

Archive for Sunday, January 18, 2009

Sunday, January 18, 2009

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Photo by Matt Stensland

Jill Ruppel

Steamboat Springs — Age: 48

Occupation: Aquatics director and swim coach, Old Town Hot Springs

Place of birth: Boulder

Q. When did you move to Routt County, and what brought you here?

A. I joined my husband out here the summer of 2006. He had taken the job as manager at Yampa Valley Regional Airport in November 2005. We have four children who were still in school when he moved out here, so I stayed back with them. However, when the five of us came out in June, we knew that this was a very special place and have been happy to be a part of this community ever since!

Q. What's the biggest risk you've taken recently?

A. Applying for the aquatics director job at Old Town Hot Springs.

Q. Describe your morning routine.

A. I wake up at 5 a.m. and stumble downstairs to get coffee. Then I sit in front of the fire and enjoy the absolute silence of my household for one hour. After that, I get the kids off to school and head to work.

Q. What was your first job?

A. I was a competitive baton twirler from the time I was 9 until I was a junior in college. Mothers used to bring their daughters to me so that I could teach them private lessons. I paid my way through college doing that.

Q. Has a book ever changed your life? What was it and why?

A. My oldest son never wanted to read, so my husband and I thought we'd start a reading group that consisted of Zach, Lexie, Dave and me. We ended up reading the whole "Redwall" series by Brian Jacques. The books were wonderful, and we'd talk about them endlessly. The shared experience really brought us close together. Our youngest daughter now reads them!

Q. Do you have any phobias?

A. Flying. Can you believe that? So I go and marry a pilot!

Q. Do you collect anything?

A. Kids!