Lewis Roberts and Jacqueline Hill raised their family of six as a very music- focused family. They met in 1947 when Jacqueline and her sister Beverly were singing a duet at Lake Center Bible Church in Portage. “My parents all made sure that we all played piano, and then chose another instrument to play when we began junior high school,” Wendy remembers. Aptly, the couple ended up raising their family in a home on Beethoven Avenue in a neighborhood Lewis developed in Portage called Maestro Acres. “My mother helped him select the street names. Beethoven, Listz, Handel, Mozart, Brahms, Chopin, and Bach,” she smiles.
Wendy is the Sixth generation to grow up and live in Southwest Michigan. Her middle class upbringing taught Wendy the values of hard work and what it means to work for what you have. Her mother and father were the hardest working people she knew and their legacy continues to be seen here in our community.
Born and Raised
Leading runs in the family.
Wendy's father, Lewis Roberts served in WWII and was a well known builder in Kalamazoo. His service to our Country along with the family's strong Christian faith instilled in Wendy the values of hard work, perseverance and an unshakable belief that our best days always lie ahead. Even in the most troubling of times, Wendy was raised to keep her head held high and work hard, serve others and always find good in this world. This is what makes up the foundation of her worldview: always persevering and finding solutions while spreading hope and joy.
EDUCATION
A MUSTANG, BRONCO, AND WOLVERINE
As a product of Portage Public Schools, Wendy has worked to keep our local schools exceptional. Wendy's love for music inspired her to attend Western and earn a music degree. Soon after WMU, Wendy put herself through The University of Michigan where she earned her Masters in Music Performance. Wendy knows the importance of a good education, and she will work to make sure every child has the opportunity to dream big, create goals and succeed.
BECOMING THE MAZERS
While in college, Wendy started working at Jacobson’s department store, and was trained by Eva Mazer, Kevin’s sister. Kevin and his mom were visiting Eva one day at the store, and Kevin caught Wendy’s eye across the floor. Their first date was at the Beacon Club, which became very special to them and was home to many memories over the years.
WENDY MEETS KEVIN
Republican. Republican. Democrat. Democrat. Republican. Democrat. Democrat. state House. State House.
SHE SAID YES!
The Mazers were married on August 20, 1982 at Bethel Baptist Church in downtown Kalamazoo.
That fall, the newlyweds moved to Lansing where Kevin was offered his first job out of college and they lived there for one year before moving back to Portage. “After spending his free time enjoying researching stocks in the Michigan State library, we decided to move back to the Kalamazoo area so Kevin could train to become a Financial Advisor,” remembers Wendy. Kevin found he enjoyed training, so he became a District Manager and trained several of the most successful advisors in the country!
BECOMING A MOM
With their move back to the area, Kevin and Wendy didn’t need to look far for a home. Wendy’s dad built their first house on Thunder Bay in Portage. A couple of years after moving into their new home, the Mazer family began to grow with the birth of their first daughter, Mallory, in 1986, followed by their son Taylor in 1988. With a growing family came the need for more space, and Wendy’s dad built them another home in 1988, this time on Green Pine Lane in Colony Woods. Their son Trent was born in 1990 and the Mazers decided to build again - another Lewis Roberts-built home - this time on Deerpath Road in Rudgate. In 1992, the Mazers added Travis to the family, and in 1995, their twins Tate and Madison,were born. In 1997, Wendy’s dad built one more house for the Mazer's on Shepherds Glen in Rudgate, where Wendy and Kevin live today with their siamese cats Phoebe and Stella. Wendy tells folks: “I think it’s safe to say we definitely kept my dad busy!”
INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY
Texas Township Board of Trustees
TRUSTEE
Kalamazoo Jr. Symphony Orchestra
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT
PCHS Women’s Soccer Boosters
FORMER PRESIDENT
PNHS Band Boosters
FORMER PRESIDENT
Portage Public Schools Board of Education
FORMER MEMBER
Kalamazoo Concert Band Board of Directors
GRANT WRITER & MEMBER
Kalamazoo Philharmonia & Kalamazoo Concert Band
MEMBER
Calvary Bible Church
MEMBER AND ORCHESTRA MEMBER
