Willa Reich
Following graduation from Creswell High School in 1955 and marriage to fellow Creswellian Fred Reich on his return from Korea that same year, Willa Reich has had a long and varied career of study and teaching, in addition to raising three daughters. "I taught piano and organ for forty years," she notes. "This fall I'll be back at the Campbell Center to teach porcelain-doll making." Over the years, Reich has taught ceramics, horticulture, and floral design in her own home studio, through OSU extension, and at every community center in Eugene. "A group of kids with disabilities came to the house to learn ceramics," she says. "I enjoy helping people." Living with congenital diabetes, Reich stays up-to-date on the latest medical research. She attends seminars, travels to conferences, and serves as a patient advisor on the medication oversight safety team at PeaceHealth. She gives talks to senior groups on how to take an active role in their own health care. "I've had doctors call me from Kansas and San Diego," she says. "My number is listed on the American Diabetes Association website."
happening people
photograph and story by Paul Neevel
Eugene Weekly / 4 September 2008
|
|
archive
contact