Members: Mike and Virginia Erwin

Mike and Virginia moved to Weaverville in 2012, and then on to wonderful Hendersonville last April. They are enjoying the area, meeting such interesting people.

Virginia: Before retiring, I was a voice teacher for over 30 years. I have taught all ages from 8 to 80—very fun. I also was a choir director at several churches and music director of the Blue Ridge Choral in Culpeper, Virginia. On the faculty of Piedmont Virginia Community College, I taught Music Appreciation and private voice. I loved it all—except for a few unruly students in my 101 music course!

Now I get to enjoy every day! We are so lucky. I am a grandmother of two boys, and I like to volunteer, and am currently on the Board of the Carolina Concert Choir. I also have a therapy dog names Charlie. We visit folds in nursing homes. Like a lot of you, I enjoy reading and gardening. I also took up golf, which has, in no uncertain terms shown me the limits of my capabilities.

Mike: I am a retired (2012) wildlife research biologist who wore “two hats.” One with the US Geological Survey and one as Research Professor in environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia. I am a committee environmentalist who volunteers for several non-profits and have been a docent for six years at the WNC Nature Center. As a Jack-of-all-trades, I enjoy fishing, hiking, skiing golf, tennis, dog walking, reading, and occasional guitar playing. One of my major goals is to make people more aware of, and appreciative of, the gifts of nature that surround us.

Friend: Ron Hollmeier

I was born, raised, educated in the Chicago area. Degree in Engineering, Northwestern University; Business, University of Chicago. Worked primarily in engineering-design/construction for various types of electric utility power generation plants, Fluor Corporation. Retired for many years.

Computer literate; managed technical program development, but haven’t programmed in years.

Worked (two years) and lived (5 years) in China; traveled extensively in China and the Far East; am fluent in verbal Chinese, fair in reading. Am technically oriented and competent with anything around the house.

Interests include nonfiction reading, friendships,
bicycling, yoga and fitness, cars, motorcycles, music,
theatre, secular humanism. I aspire to start playing the piano again and grasp the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.

Personal: married twice, currently single; have two
children, four grandchildren.