Linda Rock

I first came to the Hilliard area from Cincinnati when I took a job teaching health and P.E. at St. Brendan’s. My husband and I eventually settled in the Jerome area, where we lived for forty years. During that time, I joined Hilliard City Schools — starting at Ridgewood Elementary and later becoming part of the very first staff at Norwich Elementary when it opened as a multi-age school. I taught 4th and 5th graders there until I retired in 2009.

When we decided to downsize from our acre-and-a-half property, we immediately fell in love with our current home along the Rails-to-Trails. Hard to believe we’ve already been here ten years! I really enjoy living on the trail. It keeps me feeling connected to many of the wonderful people I worked with over the years, and I love that Hilliard continues to focus on wellness and city-wide trails. The new wellness center is such a great addition, and I hope the community keeps investing in our parks and trail system.

I’ve only been involved with HOHS for a little over a year. Honestly, I didn’t know much about it until Jo Hensley invited me to a membership meeting. Since then, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know other members and talking with visitors—especially children—during tours, the Haunted Village, and all the other activities we offer.

One thing I’ve noticed is that we really need to bring more young people into the organization. HOHS has so many great programs, but a small group of volunteers ends up doing most of the work. Looking ahead, it’s important to think about who will carry things on in the future.

Outside of HOHS, I stay busy with a few grassroots political groups in the area. I also enjoy gardening, reading, jigsaw puzzles, taking art classes, and quilting—plus, of course, spending time with my three wonderful grandchildren.