Volunteer Profiles
Being here is like “being in a candy store – if you can’t find something you like, you’re not looking!”
Meet Phil and Betty Hopkins
This is a story about Luck. Love. And, OLLI.
More than 50 years ago, Phil Hopkins & Betty Pease met, fell in love, and got married. It didn't happen quite that quickly. After four years of dating, Phil left college to join the Army. When an overseas tour beckoned, they got married. After two years in Hawaii, and an honorable discharge, Phil & Betty resumed college and began building their careers in human resources and journalism, respectively. And, they raised three children. Somehow, they also found time to help out numerous civic and school groups in their home state of Connecticut.
When it came time to retire, Betty says it was her brother who encouraged them to consider the Triangle. "It was luck that got us here,” Betty and Phil say, practically in unison. And being here is like “being in a candy store – if you can’t find something you like, you’re not looking!” Bringing their wide-ranging interests and wide-open hearts, Phil and Betty Hopkins moved to Durham in 1998. It wasn't long before they lucked up on a new love…OLLI at Duke.
A neighbor told them "to check out something at Duke called DILR" (Duke Institute for Learning in Retirement). They did and soon enrolled. Phil & Betty became and remained avid lifelong learners and very loyal volunteers long after DILR evolved into the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke.
Betty favors OLLI's group movement courses like the "Endless Duet with Space" dance class originally taught by former Duke Professor, Clay Taliaferro, who had also been a principal dancer with the José Limón Company. Clearly, Betty loved every minute of it. "When you're doing something together, you get a bond. He (Taliaferro) took a bunch of old ladies and made us believe we could be young and graceful!”
One of Phil's all-time favorite OLLI classes literally transported him to the other side of the world! Taught by Ian Goddard, the class was about South Africa. Ian invited the class to join him on a trip to his native country. Ten students from OLLI at Duke, two members from other OLLI programs, plus Phil and Betty's son, Phil III, participated. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime-trip!" Phil says. They spent two memorable weeks touring Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. They also experienced the thrill of a game reserve in neighboring Botswana.
Happily, Phil and Betty chose to take classes at OLLI at Duke year after year. Luckily, they also fully immersed themselves in other activities within OLLI.
Phil credits his very first OLLI instructor as his role model. The late Bill Wright taught a course called "Tarheel Geography." The long-time instructor was also "the consummate volunteer," according to Phil. "He did everything. OLLI at Duke created an award in his name. It is the highest honor our volunteers can receive."
So, it was with great pride, and much to their surprise, that in 2009, Phil and Betty Hopkins received the Bill Wright Award for Distinguished Leadership.
Over the years, this dynamic duo has volunteered for just about everything at OLLI at Duke, in leadership roles and on many of our committees: Activities, Communications, Membership, Nominating and Board Development, and Strategic Planning. They’ve been class assistants, greeters, receptionists, and servers.
Phil served two years as OLLI at Duke's president. The assignment required a "chief coordinator" who "tried to make sure things got done on time." Currently, as a member of the Communications Committee, he’s the editor of OLLI‘s events and announcements email, The SPOTLIGHT.
Betty co-chaired the Membership Committee, chaired the Communications Committee, and organized and ran the Beach Retreat for four consecutive years!
While the Hopkinses both enjoy the time they devote to OLLI at Duke, they realize the organization is supported by volunteers without whom it could not function nearly as well. Phil and Betty want to see more "new people get involved. They bring fresh ideas, new energy, and can keep up with all the changes in technology.”
Married since 1959, these Connecticut natives turned North Carolina transplants still have their love for each other and their family, which now includes five grandchildren, and more things to do at OLLI.
Clearly, OLLI at Duke has shown its love for and is very lucky to have this amazing pair!
More than 50 years ago, Phil Hopkins & Betty Pease met, fell in love, and got married. It didn't happen quite that quickly. After four years of dating, Phil left college to join the Army. When an overseas tour beckoned, they got married. After two years in Hawaii, and an honorable discharge, Phil & Betty resumed college and began building their careers in human resources and journalism, respectively. And, they raised three children. Somehow, they also found time to help out numerous civic and school groups in their home state of Connecticut.
When it came time to retire, Betty says it was her brother who encouraged them to consider the Triangle. "It was luck that got us here,” Betty and Phil say, practically in unison. And being here is like “being in a candy store – if you can’t find something you like, you’re not looking!” Bringing their wide-ranging interests and wide-open hearts, Phil and Betty Hopkins moved to Durham in 1998. It wasn't long before they lucked up on a new love…OLLI at Duke.
A neighbor told them "to check out something at Duke called DILR" (Duke Institute for Learning in Retirement). They did and soon enrolled. Phil & Betty became and remained avid lifelong learners and very loyal volunteers long after DILR evolved into the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke.
Betty favors OLLI's group movement courses like the "Endless Duet with Space" dance class originally taught by former Duke Professor, Clay Taliaferro, who had also been a principal dancer with the José Limón Company. Clearly, Betty loved every minute of it. "When you're doing something together, you get a bond. He (Taliaferro) took a bunch of old ladies and made us believe we could be young and graceful!”
One of Phil's all-time favorite OLLI classes literally transported him to the other side of the world! Taught by Ian Goddard, the class was about South Africa. Ian invited the class to join him on a trip to his native country. Ten students from OLLI at Duke, two members from other OLLI programs, plus Phil and Betty's son, Phil III, participated. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime-trip!" Phil says. They spent two memorable weeks touring Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. They also experienced the thrill of a game reserve in neighboring Botswana.
Happily, Phil and Betty chose to take classes at OLLI at Duke year after year. Luckily, they also fully immersed themselves in other activities within OLLI.
Phil credits his very first OLLI instructor as his role model. The late Bill Wright taught a course called "Tarheel Geography." The long-time instructor was also "the consummate volunteer," according to Phil. "He did everything. OLLI at Duke created an award in his name. It is the highest honor our volunteers can receive."
So, it was with great pride, and much to their surprise, that in 2009, Phil and Betty Hopkins received the Bill Wright Award for Distinguished Leadership.
Over the years, this dynamic duo has volunteered for just about everything at OLLI at Duke, in leadership roles and on many of our committees: Activities, Communications, Membership, Nominating and Board Development, and Strategic Planning. They’ve been class assistants, greeters, receptionists, and servers.
Phil served two years as OLLI at Duke's president. The assignment required a "chief coordinator" who "tried to make sure things got done on time." Currently, as a member of the Communications Committee, he’s the editor of OLLI‘s events and announcements email, The SPOTLIGHT.
Betty co-chaired the Membership Committee, chaired the Communications Committee, and organized and ran the Beach Retreat for four consecutive years!
While the Hopkinses both enjoy the time they devote to OLLI at Duke, they realize the organization is supported by volunteers without whom it could not function nearly as well. Phil and Betty want to see more "new people get involved. They bring fresh ideas, new energy, and can keep up with all the changes in technology.”
Married since 1959, these Connecticut natives turned North Carolina transplants still have their love for each other and their family, which now includes five grandchildren, and more things to do at OLLI.
Clearly, OLLI at Duke has shown its love for and is very lucky to have this amazing pair!