Windy City Retirees Find a Second Home at UF

For 60-somethings Dan and Kathleen Hayman, finding Gainesville and the Florida Museum of Natural History was a stroke of coincidence.

When Dan, a social studies and history teacher, and Kathleen, a communicator for nonprofits, were ready to retire in Chicago, they wanted to move south, but loved their extensive volunteer work with the Field Museum of Natural History. In fact, Dan was a founding member of the Field’s Friends of the Library and Kathleen was on the Anthropology Alliance. They met at the Field and married in the museum’s library, amid artifacts and original manuscripts, such as Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species and John James Audubon’s Birds of America.

Through a series of happy accidents, Kathleen discovered a potentially great match for their retirement dreams while reading an article in AARP the Magazine. The article described a city in Florida “where nature meets culture.” During their next snowbird trip, the couple made a point to stop in Gainesville. They made the move and have found both nature and cultural opportunities to be gratifyingly rich.

Dan volunteers by manning the Florida Museum of Natural History’s fossil cart, teaching schoolchildren and visitors from around the U.S. and abroad. He also catalogs specimens for botany and malacology researchers, and particularly enjoys their scientific conversations. Kathleen is an active member of both the museum and the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art. She loves taking advantage of their programs and is an enthusiastic advocate for both museums. Between those activities and their many outdoor excursions, the Haymans feel they have found their paradise. 

The couple believes so fervently in the museum’s educational mission and high-quality learning opportunities that they created a bequest in their wills to support its public programs. In addition, the provision says Dan’s rare books and manuscripts will be given to Smathers Libraries to enhance its anthologies and Kathleen’s West African books and artifacts will augment existing collections at the Bishop Study Center in the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art.

The Haymans, who never miss an opportunity to laugh, joke about “croaking” amid the frog exhibit because they say they feel good knowing future generations will benefit from their passions.

“Years from now, I hope our gift inspires people to devote themselves at some level in the preservation of our precious earth,” Kathleen reflects. Dan adds that he is grateful his part will “educate the general public on science” and its importance for both people and the planet.

“Our gift is an expression of who we are,” Kathleen says. “We’re living out our values and our interests.”

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