Gerri Hopkins - 2009 Woman of the Year

I was born and raised in a pol pa half household of an English father, Robert Mills Sr. and Slovenian mother, Marcelline Jernejcic, whose grandparents immigrated in the 1890's from Zuzemberk, Slovenia. I am the fourth child of five and lived in the St. Clair Slovenian area, graduating from St. Vitus School and St. Augustine Academy. I was a member of St. Vitus Church Choir and a member of St. Vitus Parish Council in the early 90's. I attended Cleveland State University and went to Progressive Fashion, School-earning diplomas in Dressmaking, Ladies Design and Pattern making, Men's Tailoring & Pattern making.

To keep things interesting I became partners in North Coast Abrasives, Inc. and I learned to recycle steel shot and grit, which was purchased as a by-product from companies such as Chrysler Corporation and General Dynamics. I worked all aspects of the factory from running the forklift and cranes, in addition to repairing and maintaining the machines, and bagging 501bs. bags of finished shot or grit for customers. In 1990 I became sole owner and President.

My active "Slovenian Life' really began in 1992 when I met Mr. Slovenia, Bob Hopkins, at the Slovenian Village Restaurant located in the Slovenian National Home storefront. It was a whirlwind romance. We met in March, got engaged in April on Easter Sunday and married at St. Vitus Church in October. Over 500 people attended our wedding reception at the Slovenian National Home. Right up to the present day, marrying Bob was the most intelligent decision I have ever made! Although we have no children, we enjoy spending time with our many nieces and nephews. We also have taken a fancy to traveling every chance we get.

In December of 1993,1 was asked by my husband to do him a "small" favor of checking the answering machine, picking up the mail and depositing the checks for a few weeks at the Slovenian National Home office until a replacement was found. It is now March 2009—they are still looking for my replacement, but obviously not too hard!

My 'job' at the Slovenian National Home became much, much more than was ever explained. Picking up phone messages has evolved into knowing and doing just about everything imaginable including, cleaning the hall, kitchen, windows, carpets & exterior, hall set-up, washing & polishing the floors, cleaning restrooms plus being a general contractor, painter, electrician, boiler operator and roofer. I have the official title of Business Manager of the Slovenian National Home and volunteer for the Friends of the Slovenian National Home, Inc. and Slovenian Museum and Archives, maintaining their records and checking accounts for the three organizations.

I am currently a member of the Slovenian National Home Board of Directors, the Friends of the Slovenian National Home, Polka Hall of Fame, Catholic Order of Foresters, Slovenian American Heritage Foundation, and auditor for the Slovenska Citalnica and the Federation of Slovenian National Homes where I have been involved with the Man and Woman of the Year tabloid.

Through the years I have been a member of Glasbena Matica and the St. Clair Business Association. I also volunteered taking calls for Dick Goddard when he featured his Adopt-A-Pet on Friday nights. I have rescued many neighborhood stray cats and dogs having as many as three dogs and five cats at one time.

All in all my Slovenian life has been a very interesting journey, meeting wonderful people and a true adventure here and around the world. Thank You Bob!