Notable Neighbors

Submitted by Lu Klaiber, Communications Chair

In the Winter issue of The Plantation Voice, I invited residents to submit themselves or nominate neighbors whose careers, talents, military service or life experiences would be interesting to share with the community. To kick it off, I am nominating two people who are vital to the Communications Committee. I’ll bet you didn’t know this about these two “Notable Neighbors!”

Aimee Downing Social Committee

Almost four years ago, Aimee, her husband and daughter (a sophomore at May River High School) moved to Rose Hill from Pittsburgh, PA. It was before covid, but both Aimee and Bob were able to work from home. Shortly after moving, Aimee became involved in Rose Hill. She planned an Easter Egg Hunt at Wood Eden with friends Debi Pollard and Pam Wise. The event was a hit and a month later, Aimee, Debi, and Pam started the Rose Hill Social Committee. “At first the group was small, but we soon saw a need for more help.” After adding a few more people the events became more complex, so Aimee built the Social Committee website to help streamline the event planning. A Creative Director for an advertising firm, Aimee has also volunteered for the past two years with the Rose Hill Communications Committee as the designer for the quarterly Plantation Voice magazine. She enjoys designing a magazine that showcases Rose Hill as a premier neighborhood.

Personally, Aimee has published a young adult trilogy under the name A. K. Downing. The books are National Indie Excellence Award Finalists and follow the adventures of a teenage girl in a post apocalyptic world. More recently, Aimee joined others who were inspired by the Little Blue Boat and created original art which she applied to Oyster Shells.

“I was amazed at the number of people I met both locally and nationwide who became attached to the Little Blue Boat and wanted a memento to remind them of the island.” Her work was featured in the March edition of Bluffton and Lowcountry Magazine which highlighted local artists who created art of the Little Blue Boat.

Aimee and her husband Bob enjoy boating, taking walks in Bill Baker Park, having drinks in the driveway with friends, and watching the sunset at Colleton Point. “We’ve made some wonderful friends here. Rose Hill has definitely become our home.”

Don Dempsey Communications Committee

Don has been making photographs since the era of the Nikon F. That’s the sixties! And he’s been behind a lot of cameras – including a television camera for an NBC affiliate. In 1976 Don opened a commercial studio, servicing corporate and advertising clients in NY and CT. Having photographed everything from jewelry to food, from live surgery in hospital OR’s to NY Giants football, from celebrities to the Dead Sea Scrolls…he’s not worried about getting typecast. Don’s first job in SC was to shoot aerials of the new Ocean Course on Kiawah for Maxfli Golf Balls, from a helicopter. After landing on the 10th green and seeing four large gators a few yards away, he didn’t think anyone would want to play there.

Before moving to Rose Hill, Don was restoring a 200-year-old mill in Newtown, CT. He attended the University of Notre Dame and has an MA from Fairfield University, where he taught photography in the Continuing Education School.

Don moved to Rose Hill in 2016 and now loves photographing the Lowcountry. The marsh view from Colleton Point is his favorite spot, offering endless photo ops as it changes with the season tide, and light. Don is a member of the Rose Hill Communications Committee. His stunning “drone” photography, and many high-quality photos are featured on the Rose Hill website, our marketing brochure and in The Plantation Voice.

Don and Aimee, we thank you for sharing your talents with Rose Hill !!!