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Staunton man is a thespian at heart | newsleader.com | The News Leader
Gary Flavin, 63, was born in Augusta County and has lived here his entire life. He recently bought a new home in Staunton. His father, John Henry Flavin, lives in Verona. His mother has passed away. His sister Beverly lives in Bridgewater with her husband, Gary Suter, a master craftsman at Suter's Furniture. Beverly is a teacher's assistant at Ottobine Elementary School in Dayton.
Flavin graduated from James Madison University in 1969 where he studied English and drama. He was a schoolteacher for 31 years. He considers himself retired, although he is a waiter at The Pampered Palate two days a week. He can also be found treading the boards in community theater productions any time he gets the chance.
After graduation, he began teaching English in the deaf department at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. "I had a cousin who was a deaf student there and it kind of interested me," he said. He had no previous experience in sign language. "I went into the classroom knowing how to sign A, B, C and that was it. Looking back on it now I can't imagine how I had the nerve to do it," he said. Within a year he had mastered signing and went on to direct plays done in sign language and even starred in a few. He also enjoys that as a waiter who does know sign language, he is able to communicate with customers who are deaf. "We can talk and joke together and that makes it really nice," he said.
After 13 years at VSDB, he was offered a position in the drama department at Robert E. Lee High School.
"Theater has always been my all-consuming interest and although I was able to direct some production at VSDB, there was no drama department. At Lee High I was able to teach English as well as drama," he said. He retired from Lee High after 18 years.
Flavin has appeared in numerous community theater productions. His name has been on the bill of the Waynesboro Theater, Valley Players in Harrisonburg, small dinner theaters and Charlottesville theater groups. The most enjoyable role he ever had was in Wizard of Oz.
"I was the Cowardly Lion for one entire summer at the Land of Oz theme park in Banner Elk, N.C. Unfortunately the park has since closed so no more yellow brick road for me," he said.
Flavin enjoys Staunton because of the culture and the feeling that everyone is interconnected.
"I was again reminded of how great the people are here when a $5 tip was left for me on an outside table. I was very busy and could not get out to clear it for quite some time and the money was still there," he said.
Name: Gary Flavin
Age: 63
Favorite movie: "Field of Dreams"
Favorite actress: Barbra Streisand
Favorite reading: The Harry Potter series
Must see TV: "I am a total gleek. I love Glee."
Dream vacation: Cruise
If you could go back in time and experience life in another era, what would it be? Victorian England
What is your greatest extravagance? "Buying DVDs, and I've got to stop. I have hundreds in my house."
Who would you come back as? A Broadway musical actor
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? "I would like to be able to dance well."
Trait you most dislike in another person? Pretentiousness
Gary Flavin, 63, was born in Augusta County and has lived here his entire life. He recently bought a new home in Staunton. His father, John Henry Flavin, lives in Verona. His mother has passed away. His sister Beverly lives in Bridgewater with her husband, Gary Suter, a master craftsman at Suter's Furniture. Beverly is a teacher's assistant at Ottobine Elementary School in Dayton.
Flavin graduated from James Madison University in 1969 where he studied English and drama. He was a schoolteacher for 31 years. He considers himself retired, although he is a waiter at The Pampered Palate two days a week. He can also be found treading the boards in community theater productions any time he gets the chance.
After graduation, he began teaching English in the deaf department at Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. "I had a cousin who was a deaf student there and it kind of interested me," he said. He had no previous experience in sign language. "I went into the classroom knowing how to sign A, B, C and that was it. Looking back on it now I can't imagine how I had the nerve to do it," he said. Within a year he had mastered signing and went on to direct plays done in sign language and even starred in a few. He also enjoys that as a waiter who does know sign language, he is able to communicate with customers who are deaf. "We can talk and joke together and that makes it really nice," he said.
After 13 years at VSDB, he was offered a position in the drama department at Robert E. Lee High School.
"Theater has always been my all-consuming interest and although I was able to direct some production at VSDB, there was no drama department. At Lee High I was able to teach English as well as drama," he said. He retired from Lee High after 18 years.
Flavin has appeared in numerous community theater productions. His name has been on the bill of the Waynesboro Theater, Valley Players in Harrisonburg, small dinner theaters and Charlottesville theater groups. The most enjoyable role he ever had was in Wizard of Oz.
"I was the Cowardly Lion for one entire summer at the Land of Oz theme park in Banner Elk, N.C. Unfortunately the park has since closed so no more yellow brick road for me," he said.
Flavin enjoys Staunton because of the culture and the feeling that everyone is interconnected.
"I was again reminded of how great the people are here when a $5 tip was left for me on an outside table. I was very busy and could not get out to clear it for quite some time and the money was still there," he said.
Name: Gary Flavin
Age: 63
Favorite movie: "Field of Dreams"
Favorite actress: Barbra Streisand
Favorite reading: The Harry Potter series
Must see TV: "I am a total gleek. I love Glee."
Dream vacation: Cruise
If you could go back in time and experience life in another era, what would it be? Victorian England
What is your greatest extravagance? "Buying DVDs, and I've got to stop. I have hundreds in my house."
Who would you come back as? A Broadway musical actor
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? "I would like to be able to dance well."
Trait you most dislike in another person? Pretentiousness