When Abby and Joe Yochim first started looking for a home in the Marple Newtown area, they had already looked at plenty of possibilities. But it didn’t take long for one particular house, and one particular neighborhood, to stand out. “We had been looking for a while,” Abby recalled. “When our house came on the market, we were thrilled our offer was accepted. It was only on the market for five days.”
There was another reason the house felt like a particularly good fit. A close friend of Joe’s had previously lived next door, and he knew the neighborhood well. His recommendation gave them confidence, but ultimately, it was the feeling they got when they walked through the door that sealed the deal. “It was the first house and neighborhood we looked at that we could see ourselves living in,” Abby said.
That was October 2015. More than a decade later, their house in Broomall has become the backdrop for a growing family, neighborhood friendships and countless everyday memories.
Both Abby and Joe’s professional lives have continued to revolve around medicine and helping others. Abby began her career working in an emergency department for five years before spending seven years in neurosurgery as a physician assistant at Main Line Health. Today, she has shifted her primary focus to education. She is an assistant professor at West Chester University, where she teaches future healthcare professionals. She still works clinically on a per diem basis in neurosurgery and pediatric emergency medicine.
Abby is originally from Texas but grew up in Pittsford, New York, outside Rochester, with her three brothers. Her childhood included Jefferson Road Elementary and Pittsford Sutherland High School, where she played varsity lacrosse and soccer. She also developed a love of art, painting, photography, hiking and skiing, and these interests would continue in various forms throughout her life.
She attended the University of Rochester, graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Genetics. A Division III college lacrosse athlete, Abby balanced academics with athletics before moving to the Philadelphia area for graduate school. At Thomas Jefferson University East Falls, formerly Philadelphia University, she earned her Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies in 2012.
Joe’s roots are closer to home. He grew up in Ridley, attended Lakeview Elementary and Ridley High School, and played baseball while participating in the school’s AV club. He went on to West Chester University, graduating in 2009 with a degree in Biology. While in college, he also worked at the radio station, gaining experience that would complement his science background.
Both Abby and Joe’s professional lives have continued to revolve around medicine and helping others. Abby began her career working in an emergency department for five years before spending seven years in neurosurgery as a physician assistant at Main Line Health.
Today, she has shifted her primary focus to education. She is an assistant professor at West Chester University, where she teaches future healthcare professionals. She still works clinically on a per diem basis in neurosurgery and pediatric emergency medicine.
For Abby, one of the most rewarding parts of teaching is seeing students develop. “I really enjoy watching the students grow,” she said. “They learn so much so quickly. I remember hearing someone say that they felt they could help more people by teaching, and the idea resonated with me.” Every student she teaches has the potential to go on to care for countless patients throughout a career. “I truly believe it,” she added. “I am lucky to have such motivated students, but it’s amazing to think about all the people they will help during their careers.” Abby is also continuing her own education, currently pursuing a Doctor of Medical Science degree with a concentration in medical education.
Joe works as a paramedic for Narberth Ambulance. After his time working at a radio station during college, he found a career where every day brings something different. “I was inspired to go into medicine by my grandmother when I was growing up,” Joe said. “What I find interesting is that nothing is ever routine.”
It was the medical field that brought Joe and Abby together when they first crossed paths at the Bryn Mawr Emergency Department. It was Abby’s first job as a PA, and Joe, a medic, frequently brought in patients. Abby heard from a colleague that Joe was interested in asking her out. Joe, who was a bit shy, had a subtle approach, eventually bringing in hot chocolate for Abby. “I remember thinking it was too hot for hot chocolate,” Abby joked. “I later discovered that it was from Joe and he wanted my number.”
Abby and Joe were married in September 2017 at Appleford Estate in Villanova. Their honeymoon took them to the Bahamas, where they glamped, a combination that suited them both: the tropical relaxation Joe enjoys and the adventure Abby loves.
There was, however, one adventure they ultimately decided to leave for another day. The couple encountered the Bahamas’ famous blue holes but opted not to jump in. “We were both too scared,” Abby admitted. “We didn’t trust the rope or ourselves to climb back up.”
Their married life began in Broomall, and in the years since, their family has grown to include three daughters: Quinn, Meredith and Blair. Quinn, seven, is in second grade at Loomis Elementary.
Friendly and bubbly, she is confident and quick to make friends. She enjoys art and golf and has a particular interest in math and STEM. “She will try and make friends with everyone,” Abby said. Quinn especially loves vacations and time when the whole family is together.
Four-year-old Meredith attends Creative Clubhouse for pre-kindergarten. She participates in gymnastics and swimming and has earned a reputation for being determined from a very young age. Her preschool teachers described her as having a “tenacious spirit,” a phrase her parents say fits her perfectly. Even at age two, Meredith was drawn to the highest and most precarious parts of playgrounds. Rather than trying to discourage her adventurous personality, her parents found a way to help her channel it safely, through gymnastics. “She has learned how to take risks while also developing the skills to manage them,” Abby said.
Then there is Blair, the family’s youngest, who is 20 months old. She is already eager to follow in her sisters’ footsteps, joining in on whatever activities they are doing. Her defining characteristic so far is perhaps the simplest. “She is happy and always smiling,” said Abby.
For Abby and Joe, one of the biggest reasons they fell in love with their home was the neighborhood itself. Abby calls her block “the best cul-de-sac with the best neighbors.” The phrase might sound like the kind of thing any proud homeowner would say, but their family’s daily life seems to back it up.
“Our daughters are ‘front yard kids,’” Abby said. “They run around the neighborhood, say hello to neighbors and spend time visiting with older residents on the street.” There is a sense of familiarity and connection that can be increasingly difficult to find. “We all look out for each other on our street,” she added. “I know there are many sets of eyes on them out there.”
The neighborhood has become an extension of the family’s home. Quinn is even in the same grade at school as two other children who live on their street. For a busy family, that kind of community provides something invaluable: the freedom for children to explore while knowing there is a network of familiar adults nearby.
Although work keeps Abby and Joe busy, they try to make their free time count. Many of Abby’s old hobbies have evolved since becoming a mother. Art and creativity remain part of her life, although these days that might mean chalk paint or making “glitter potions” with the girls. And when there is time to relax, family comes first. “Family dance parties are my favorite,” Abby said.
The family also shares a love of Longwood Gardens. The gardens hold a special place in Abby and Joe’s story: it was one of their first dates and the place where they got engaged. Now they return with their daughters, creating a new generation of memories. There is one practical lesson the parents have learned from those family outings: bring extra clothes. “The kids frequently end up soaked in the Children’s Garden.” Abby and Joe joked.
Each year, the family also looks forward to two recurring destinations: Avalon, New Jersey, and Keuka Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, where they vacation with extended family. Those trips, along with everyday evenings on their cul-de-sac, visits to Longwood Gardens and spontaneous family dance parties, are becoming the traditions that define this chapter of their lives.
Abby and Joe arrived in Broomall in 2015 because they believed they had found the right house in the right neighborhood. More than a decade later, it is clear they found something bigger: a place where their daughters can grow up surrounded by familiar faces, where neighbors look out for one another and where a front-yard game can turn into an evening spent visiting with friends.
For a family whose careers are centered on caring for and helping others, perhaps it is fitting that they have found a community that does much the same.