Didier Gincig is one of those people that you could meet once and never forget. He has an enthusiasm for life that is downright infectious, and he acknowledges each person he encounters with such presence, which implies to me that every moment, every person, and every interaction is important to him. He never seems to take life for granted – he absorbs it all with intentionality, vivaciousness, and respect. He is the antithesis of the word “busybody,” as he makes every moment matter. If you don’t know him personally, you may recognize him when I tell you he often organizes and MCs events that showcase other people’s talents, from kids to senior citizens. Didier loves to smile, laugh, converse deeply, and give others a stage on which to shine.
He is the kind of person you just want to know more about, so here you are, folks: Didier Gincig, in his own words…
1) Growing Up: I was born in Nancy, Lorraine, France. My mother was French, and my father was from Los Angeles. When military bases were closed in France, we moved to the US where we lived in a great place close to nature in the middle of the city. Apricot trees, growing food, living close to the land started early on. We always spoke French at home (although my sister, Debby, and I always spoke in English together). I loved riding my bike from the San Fernando Valley to go bodysurfing. My parents brought us to Sequoia and camping on the coast. When I was 16, I enjoyed a summer living in Sequoia while working for the Youth Conservation Corps. I went to college at UC Santa Barbara and then, after Field Quarter (college credit for months of backpacking in the Sierras and the desert) I transferred to UC Santa Cruz. I got my teaching degree at San Francisco State University and moved to the island in 1995.
2) My Parents: Monique & Bill Gincig gave me the gift of life and provided a home, resources, guidance, and love as I grew up. I’m grateful to my parents and my ancestors for the miracle of life.
3) Marriage: Kate (Kathryn) and I met in 1984 at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind in Napa, California, when she was 24 and I was freshly graduated from UC Santa Cruz at the tender age of 22. We early on had a strong respect for each other’s work ethic and sincerity with blind children and adults. We were married in 1989 and have provided each other with support, friendship, love, resources, good food, and a daily connection. I love going to Mountain Lake with Kathryn and appreciating the beauty of nature together. I admire her work with blind children and her generosity and kindness. I love our marriage and life with Kathryn.
4) Our Children: Our children are miracles. Thaddeus, 32, and Emilie, 29, are quite fortunate to have Kathryn as their mother. I have always enjoyed their relationship with their mama. I have done the best I can as a papa. I loved when the children were little and we were just starting as a family. I love our children and enjoy each year seeing who they are in each phase of their lives. I love how kind, articulate, and thoughtful they both are.
5) Growing Food and Beauty: I love participating in the miracle of planting a seed and nurturing the plant to grow into food. I love the beauty of the garden. I love picking blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, plums, apples, and pears. It is so satisfying to put away food for the year, such as making applesauce. I’m thankful for the garden I maintain at my father’s house. It’s the garden where my parents grew food and created beauty, and where food, beauty, birds, frogs, and flowers bring me much contentment, connection, exercise, and passion.
6) Mountain Lake, Swimming, Kayaking: One of my greatest pleasures in life is swimming and kayaking at Mountain Lake, being in a hammock, reading a good book while enjoying quiet, and the sounds of birds and the wind.
7) Preschool Teacher: As a preschool teacher in Santa Cruz and Mill Valley, California, I enjoyed singing songs with the children, reading to little ones, doing art, being funny at circle time, playing on the level of the children, having whimsical conversations, being silly, and hours of pushing children on the swings. It was fun to be a preschool teacher.
8) School Teacher: I was a fifth grade teacher for several years in Daly City, California. I enjoyed creating lesson plans, making lessons and projects interesting, learning about history (and herstory), having interesting interactions with my students, seeing their creativity, helping them think for themselves, reading their writing, and also getting to teach teachers at district workshops on an interdisciplinary approach to environmental education. I did my best to make it fun and interesting, being respectful with the children and creating inspiration. It was as a 4/5 grade teacher when Nancy Knapp went on a sabbatical that we had the opportunity to be on the island for a year, which turned into 27 so far. I enjoyed a decade of doing my best as a substitute teacher in special education, kindergarten, PE, and all grades K-12.
9) Orcas Rec.: For thirteen years I was the coordinator of the Orcas Island Recreation Program. It was satisfying to have annual triathlons at Moran State Park, Ultimate Frisbee Tournaments, swim lessons, youth soccer, theater with John Clancy at the Orcas Center, art, music, sports, and much more. There was a time when I felt that I knew every child on the island. I’m grateful, as that job let us stay on the island.
10) Officiating and Coordinating Weddings: Officiating and coordinating weddings is such fulfilling work. I love being a part of such a momentous event in people’s lives.
11) Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory: Producing and directing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at the Grange years ago and at the Orcas Center more recently is an achievement I treasure. I am so grateful for the opportunity to do the production with children and adults. What fun memories we created! I loved the creativity of the cast and all the support we gave each other.
12) Balanced Life: I am thankful to have a balance between work and freedom to plan the day to do what needs to be done and enjoy the gifts of life. I love doing work that brings pleasure to me and helps others, and having my hobbies and interests. I appreciate the balance.
13) Access to Nature: I love living on the island and accessing nature frequently. Living in beauty has always been an important part of my life. I’ve always prioritized living close to the natural world. I love being at Point Doughty, Turtleback, Twin Lakes, Mountain Lake, the lagoon, going on the rope swing, fishing and swimming at Cascade Lake, kayaking in salt and freshwater, and walking around Mountain Lake with Kathryn. I’m very thankful to Robert Moran for donating the land for protection after he spent time with John Muir.
14) Thankful for Access to Food and Water: I’m very thankful for access to healthy and tasty food and clean water.
15) Odd Fellows and Service: Twenty-six years ago, a year after we moved to the island, I joined the Odd Fellows men’s group where we offer service to the community in various ways. I have learned a lot from my brothers in awe about “ways of life.” We help each other, share food at potlucks, and we’ve had epic camping trips to Baker Lake and on the coast. We sing and drum and march in parades, and have deep connection at meetings on inner works. Being part of the Odd Fellows has connected me with community and opportunities I would not have had.
16) Thankful for the Island for Providing Lifestyle Parents: I appreciate the lifestyle and opportunities the island has provided for my family. My mother and father found deep connection here after moving from the noise and hubbub of Los Angeles. Emilie and Thaddeus were raised by more than us on this island. Emilie is the Executive Director at the Funhouse, continuing our family ways of doing what we can for children.
17) Democracy: Democracy is something I value – for people to be able to vote and choose their representatives. I value honesty, truth, doing good for people, taking care of children, and protecting the nature on our planet. A thriving democracy is important, and I’m concerned to see what is happening and hope that love, truth, and goodness will prevail.
18) Equity & Kindness: I believe in equity between genders and respect and kindness for everyone, including human beings and the natural world.
19) Cora: Our former neighbor, Cora, was born next door. We’ve known her from the beginning. We love and value our relationship with Cora. We have enjoyed our connection with her from when she was tiny to now, as she is twelve years old. Kathryn and I love sharing time with Cora.
20) Children: I love children—their zaniness, silliness, how cute they are, their playfulness, their freedom of expression. I love interacting with children and sharing whimsical moments of delight.
21) Golden State Warriors: I love the Golden State Warriors. I love watching them play basketball while running or walking on the treadmill. It’s one of my favorite pleasures.
22) Gratitude: Feeling gratitude is very important to me. There is so much to be grateful for.
23) Animals, Awe, Knowingness: I have a lot of reverence for nature and planet Earth. I feel awe at the knowingness of life and how, in its many forms, nature’s intelligence does what it does with so much beauty and variety. The concept of Gaia is very important to me.
24) Bodysurfing: I love bodysurfing! Catching a wave and riding it in a beautiful place brings me much joy and satisfaction.
25) Robin: I love creating beauty with landscaping with my friend, Robin Kucklick.
26) Winter: In the wintertime I enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles, reading fiction and non-fiction, listening to audio books, watching shows and movies with Kathryn, watching NBA basketball, playing games, enjoying delicious soups and meals, drawing and painting, and maintaining the warmth of the wood stove.
27) To the People: I want people who are reading this to know that I value my friendships, my family, my connection to the community, and that I am thankful to OPAL for being able to have a home for our family. I hope the island can preserve its beauty and its island charm.
Loved learning more about him. Thanks for the profile. And as an Oddfellow crew, he helped me move quickly to transfer large items to storage unit. Very grateful.
Very proud of my cousin, his family, and all their accomplishments. Immigrants to the United States contribute a lot and we are grateful.