ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Cathy talks with Jeff Darbee, a familiar name in Central Ohio and a lifelong advocate for historic preservation. Jeff and his wife, Nancy, have spent fifty years protecting and celebrating the architecture that defines communities across the region. Their story begins with the dramatic 1976 demolition of Columbus’s Union Station arcade, an event that not only sparked a movement but also brought Jeff and Nancy together.
Jeff shares how that moment shaped a career devoted to preserving history, from consulting on the renovation of the Ohio Statehouse to documenting the expansion of Ohio Stadium. He reflects on how passion for the past has kept him busier than ever in what most people would call retirement. Today, he continues his work through WOSU TV’s Columbus Neighborhoods series, where his “Driving with Darbee” segments bring local history to life for viewers across the state.
The conversation explores how Jeff and Nancy transitioned from full‑time preservation work to mentoring the next generation of consultants, helping them carry forward the mission of protecting Ohio’s architectural heritage. Cathy and Jeff discuss why preserving the physical artifacts of history matters, how communities like German Village have thrived because of it, and why curiosity about the past remains essential to shaping the future.
It’s a thoughtful, inspiring start to a three‑part conversation about purpose, legacy, and how a lifelong passion can turn retirement into reinvention.
Reinventing Retirement is the property of Dr. Cathy Paessun and is produced by Tim Beeman for Such-N-Such Media.
