Maria and Mark Tebbutt both moved to Davis at the age of three – Maria’s family originated from Guatemala, Mark’s from Chicago. Growing up in Davis their paths never crossed, even though they went to some of the same schools. They both graduated in 1975 from Davis High School, where Mark played football, and Maria was busy with her studies so she could graduate a year early.

After high school, Mark graduated from UC Davis and then got an MBA from USC. Maria put her skills to work as a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman.
 

When they finally met, it was in Modesto at a Black Angus where they were hanging out with their respective friends after work.

“I boldly went up to him and asked if he was from the 1975 graduating class from Davis,” Maria relates. “He looked perplexed and must have thought I was clairvoyant. It was clearly evident he did not recognize me.”
 

Mark wrote her phone number on a cocktail napkin, went home, and looked her up in the Davis High yearbook. A month later, on their third date, they went to their 10-year high school reunion together; they’ve attended every reunion together since. Bicycling was a big part of their courtship, as well as long walks, and Mark proposed to Maria on Bridal Veil Lane on one of those walks. Their best memory together is getting married at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Davis 36 years ago.
 

They moved back to Davis to be closer to their parents, and had a daughter, Nicole; she attended San Francisco State University, where she earned a degree in anthropology. “We have lived in the same home in east Davis for 32 years,” Maria says. “We love that it is easy to walk or ride a bike to three grocery stores and much more. We enjoy walking around the arboretum behind the cemetery and watching the seasonal wildlife.
 

“Our street has many full-grown trees and each house is unique due to people having lived in them for 50+ years.”
 

Their neighborhood is a vibrant place to live, and they enjoy being part of the neighborhood events. “We enjoy the Neighborhood Night Out potluck, as well as a neighborhood Halloween potluck and brunch on the 4th of July,” Maria says.
 

Sports are a big part of their lives. “Mark loves tennis and has played for 40 years,” Maria says. “He rides, and leads rides, with the Davis Bike Club several days a week.” Maria is on the board of directors of the Davis Bike Club, and rides two to three times a week.
 

Their love of cycling led to Maria founding The Bike Campaign, a non-profit that she started in 2011. The organization provides bicycle education to all ages and designed a bike skills training program for elementary schools. They work closely with city governments, school districts, and community service groups to encourage people to “ride more, drive less!,” Maria says. The Bike Campaign runs two locations of The Bike Garage (Davis and Woodland), where people can bring bikes for basic repairs as well as buy used bikes, new helmets, lights, bike bells, and drop off serviceable bikes they no longer need, which the garage mechanics tune up and resell.
 

The Bike Campaign is a family affair for the Tebbutts. Mark has worked as the accountant for The Bike Campaign for the past 11 years. “Both of us are involved on a daily basis with the operation of and development of The Bike Campaign,” Maria says. Nicole now lives in San Francisco and is still car free; she was instrumental in the re-design of The Bike Campaign’s website.
 

Animals are also part of the Tebbutt family. Maria and Mark have two guinea pigs, Boris and Ben. “For some reason they seem to enjoy wearing costumes!” Maria says. Nicole has a new puppy.
 

Gardening is another family passion. “We enjoy gardening and using the fruits produced by our 32 dwarf fruit trees,” Maria says. They share their extra fruit with their friends and neighbors.

 

Maria’s best advice for Davis? ”Spend time in your front yard. This gives people a chance to see you and stop and say hello when they are walking or riding by, she says. “Borrow a little something from a neighbor. This lets them know that they are welcome to knock on your door and borrow a cup of sugar when needed too.”