Paul & Barb Kondrat

Barb grew up in Pepper Pike where her dad was a golf pro at Pepper Pike Country Club. She graduated from Orange High School.

Paul is from Mayfield and graduated from Mayfield High School. After high school, Paul went to business school and began his sales career.

It was the summer of 1969 when Paul saw Barb at the beach and told his friend that he was going to marry her. Later that year, they met at a dance hall and started dating. Two years later, on a -10 degree January 25 day, they got married and moved to their first apartment in Mayfield.

Paul and Barb purchased their first home in Mayfield and after two years, they moved to Bedford and then Solon. Paul and Barb started their own company, Newport Chemical, from the back bedroom of their home in 1974. After a couple of years, as their company continued to grow, they built their building in Oakwood Village, where the company is still located today.

The Kondrats have three kids —Robert, Jason and Julie — who are now all running the company with Paul. They also have six grandkids: Alexa, Ava, Emma, RP, Andrew and Kady. Family is extremely important to them and they spend a lot of time enjoying all of the grandkids’ activities and events.

Paul and Barb moved to Walden six years ago. They were members for five years before moving here. Paul spent a lot of time golfing at Walden and he was the one who wanted to move to Walden at first. While Paul was golfing at Walden, he was scoping out several homes and was trying to convince Barb to move. Michael Balog showed them the home they would end up buying in Deer Island. Paul finally convinced Barb to move and they purchased and renovated their entire home. Barb is very happy that Paul convinced her to move to Walden. They love it here and have made great friends especially on their street in Deer Island.

They say, “We have met such wonderful people in Walden and everywhere you look it is just beautiful.”

Paul says the secret to a successful marriage is to always do what your wife wants!