CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - With three matriculating daughters, graduation day 2021 came in triplicate for County Supervisor Rich Desmond and his wife Lisa. The couple blended families following their 2017 marriage and five young people now share their Carmichael Colony home.

The process has been an adjustment. “The biggest challenge was getting enough room for us to feel we all had our own space,” mom Lisa Desmond says. “But everybody’s happy. Rich and I refer to them all as ‘our kids’. They get along great. All the siblings and step-siblings are celebrating our three graduations.”

Desmond’s eldest daughter and his wife’s two girls recently donned robes. With studies focused on psychology and criminology, Taylor Munion (22) got magna cum laude honors for her Sonoma State University degree.  Alex Desmond (18) this week graduated from St Francis Catholic High School and Bailey Munion (17) was among 450-plus Rio Americano students who threw caps skyward. “There’s been a lot of parties,” reports mom Lisa. “Everyone’s excited and nervous, but our girls are totally ready to move on to their next adventures.”

An insurance professional, the District 3 first-spouse studied psychology at San Francisco State University. Her daughters were teenagers when she met Carmichael native Desmond. The CHP officer had attended Jesuit High before entering Santa Clara University and graduating from McGeorge Law School. He was serving at CHP commanding level when a sister played matchmaker for the two divorcees. “Rich was smart and funny,” Lisa noted. “I could see how much he loved his kids. That was huge for me. We immediately knew we cared for each other; we just had to figure out how to blend our families and make things work.”

Post-nuptial transition was smoothed when this millennial Brady bunch purchased the rambling home Rich’s parents bought in 1952 to accommodate nine kids. “It’s enormous,” approves Lisa. “We have five bedrooms and space for everyone.” Situated near Ancil Hoffman Park, the three-acre Desmond compound also includes homes of Lisa’s sisters-in-law, Janie Desmond Ison and Madeline Berghoff and their respective spouses. “We all love having family next door,” says Lisa. “Rich and his siblings are each other’s best friends. We’re planning a big family party for all our graduates.”

Though 2021 diplomas hang on the wall, clan Desmond is not quite done with caps and robes. Future graduates include Richard Desmond III (16), who begins his Jesuit junior year in fall. The Supervisor’s youngest, Lilly (13) will enter 8th grade at Our lady of Assumption. “Rich and I have pushed all our kids toward higher education,” confirms Lisa. “They all know they have to go to college. We also want them to follow their goals and be happy. We’re fantastically proud of them all.”

Beyond managing a house that bulges with grads and future grads, mom and dad have each other to support. “I work from home and Rich puts in long hours at his new job,” says his wife. “He’s always flying out to meetings. We try to eat dinners as a family – it was easier when he was with CHP -- it’s not always possible now he’s Supervisor. He still insists we make time for each other. We go on dates and take little vacations without the kids. If we don’t stay connected and on the same page as a couple, nothing will work for anyone.”