Greenville & Hockessin Life Winter 2022

Letter from the Editor:

Over the last quarter century, with boldness, flair and authenticity, Johnny Weir has stirred up the world with his talents as a figure skater and now as a commentator and personality.

In this edition of Greenville & Hockessin Life, we’re pleased to present a profile of Weir as writer Richard L. Gaw talks to the two-time Olympian, three-time U.S. National Champion, and 2021 inductee into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame about his career and connections to Delaware.

Writer Ken Mammarella provides an Inside glimpse into Winterthur’s enthralling and enormous library. This library’s treasures fill 30,000 square feet over five floors, including more than 100,000 books, 4,000 collections, and 4,000 feet of shelving for archives related to Winterthur itself. The origins of the library can be traced back to du Pont patriarch Pierre Samuel du Pont, whose 8,000-book collection was one of young America’s largest private libraries.

Gene Pisasale, a writer and historian, has written a story about some of the things that you might not know about Hagley Museum. This vast storehouse of information opened to the public in 1957 and is a showcase of American entrepreneurism.

This issue also features a story about Paragon Life and Fitness, which aims to fill a gap for all sorts of adults seeking a gym in the Pike Creek-Hockessin area. Owner Vickie George is an advocate for the physically challenged, and she wants to make exercise available to all adults through the gym.

Nemours Children’s Health recently named Hockessin resident Dr. Meghan Walls as its director of external affairs in the Delaware Valley. In this pivotal role, Dr. Walls will work to build awareness of the Nemours Children’s Health mission and garner support for its strategic objectives with elected officials and community leaders. Greenville & Hockessin Life met with Dr. Walls to discuss her new position, key objectives for Nemours Children’s Health, as well as major concerns about children’s health and hopeful breakthroughs.

The photo essay in this edition features Winterthur, Delaware’s holiday home. From the decorated splendor of Henry Francis du Pont’s former home to an ever-changing bounty of activities and displays, Winterthur is a gift-wrapped present for the senses and the soul.

We hope you enjoy these stories, and we always welcome comments and suggestions for stories to highlight in a future issue of Greenville & Hockessin Life. And we look forward to bringing you the next edition of this magazine, which will arrive in the summer of 2023. Until then, please enjoy the holiday season!