Meet Vinny and Sue Oliva
July 1st, 2019
This month we spoke with Vinny and Sue Oliva and got to know more about their lives and why they love Grande Dunes!
Q: Where are you originally from and what schools did you attend?
A: We were both originally from Long Island, NY and both attended Earl L. Vandermeulen HS in Port Jefferson. Sue attended Mount Holyoke College and Vinny attended St. Johns University.
Q: How did you two meet and how long have we been married?
A: We met in high school and have been married for 47 years.
Q: Do we have any other family members such as children, pets, etc.?
A: We have a daughter who lives in Hoboken, NJ and is a Partner in the law firm of Fox Rothschild, LLP in New York. We also have two cats, Twitch and Feisty and 2 “grandcats.”
Q: What do you do for a living or if you are retired, what did you do in your previous life?
A: Sue is a retired teacher who specialized in early childhood education. Vinny is still working as an executive at Gartner, a global business and technology research & advisory organization.
Q: What are your favorite pastimes and hobbies individually and as a couple?
A: Sue loves to read, volunteer and cook. Vinny loves to play golf. We both love the beach, attending gourmet wine dinners, attending Chaine des Rotisseurs events, the Long Bay Symphony, the Atlantic Stage, getting together with friends and traveling.
Q: What is the most spontaneous thing or craziest thing you’ve ever done together?
A: Got engaged to be married!
Q: What brought you to Myrtle Beach and how many years have you lived here?
A: We were originally drawn to Myrtle beach by the Chief of Police in the town we lived in in New Jersey. He was a good friend and used to come down here to play golf. He invited Vinny down on a few “guys” golfing trips. Vinny loved it and started bringing Sue down, who also loved it. We bought a condo in Little River in 2010 and started to come down more often. When Sue retired in 2013 we decided to leave the cold north and move here. Vinny is still working but is able to work from home most of the time. In June, we will be here 5 years.
Q: What are your favorite things about living in Grande Dunes and in your neighborhood?
A: Grande Dunes is a beautiful, well-planned community, that is “an oasis” in the middle of Myrtle Beach. It has a quiet serene atmosphere, yet is close to everything we need. The Ocean Club is a beautiful way to enjoy the beach and pool. The golf is terrific. Our neighborhood, Seville, is a beautiful place with beautiful people. We were made to feel very welcome since the day we moved in and have made some wonderful friends here.
Q: What would you tell family and friends back home about the overall “Lifestyle” in Grande Dunes and what activities are you involved in?
A: Mostly laid back and fun. We have the option of participating in many activities that Grande Dunes offers or just enjoying our beautiful home, neighbors and friends. Sue is the Ambassador of the Book Club, we are involved with the trivia contests, the wine club and wine dinners.
Q; What would you say to a new homeowner who would like to meet new people?
A: Get involved in activities, have dinner parties, if you have a dog, walk it a lot…you will always meet people along the way.
