Biography for

Gerda (Priehn) Hook

After high school Gerda graduated from Valparaiso University where she received a B.A. in English and German Literature. She worked in Institutional Advancement until retiring in 2006. Eleven years ago she married her husband, Samuel, who is a nonprofit executive.

When they lived in California, Gerda served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert; on the Riverside County Historical Commission; as a guest reporter for THE DESERT SUN; and she did consulting (grant writing) for numerous nonprofit clients in SoCal. She and Sam were members of Desert Riders, the oldest social club in the desert; and they were active in St. Margaret's Episcopal Church.

She owns a horse which she is training in classical dressage and both she and her husband enjoyed riding the trails near their home.

However, they enjoyed visiting their cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where Sam likes to hunt and fish, so much that they just made it their permanent home. Gerda's favorite vacation destination, however, is still the central coast of Oregon where she can watch whales, pursue her photography, and recharge.