Michael's Page

There's not much to say about my early years. I was born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1944 and grew up in nearby Maple Shade, living in a small home with my parents, Adam and Anne Valinis, my brother John, and a succession of dogs, cats, canaries and budgies. I did all the usual boy things, most especially fishing and scouting. After graduation from Holy Cross High School in Riverside, I attended LaSalle University (then LaSalle College) in Philadelphia, from which I, in due time, graduated with a B.A. in German. From there I went on to graduate school at The Ohio State University which, for some reason best known to them, granted me an M.A. in German in 1968. Since that time I have been employed in the Acquisition Department at the OSU Libraries I have some hobbies which include objects not usually considered to be among the contents of the normal household, but then again, nobody has ever accused Sandy and me of having a normal household. Music is a very important part of my life. Since 1979 I have played euphonium in the Worthington Civic Band, an adult concert band sponsored by the Worthington, Ohio Parks and Recreation Department. My daughter, Lori Auman, who lives in nearby Gahanna, plays trumpet, and we have performed in a few bands together, but that is not the case at this time. As my wife Sandy does, I also play recorders. At various times I have played with The Ohio State University Collegium Musicum and (with Sandy) in another local consort, Musica di Camerata. Another of my musical loves is old-time Appalachian string band music. One of my favorite methods of relaxation is sitting down in the evening to frail a few songs on my 1919 Vega Fairbanks Whyte Laydie banjo. I also have a ca. 1900 banjeurine (a short-necked 5-string banjo) and an old plectrum banjo that has been converted to a 5-string fretless instrument with gut strings. I love the sound of gut strings on a fretless instrument. I'm also attempting to learn to play the English concertina, which is quite a shock after fooling around with an old 20-button Anglo-style instrument for several years. But it's something I've always wanted to try, and I do believe that I'm starting to get the hang of it. You have already heard about our dog and parrots. I also like to work with other living things. I have been growing orchids in our home since 1976. Since 1981 I have been involved in the American Orchid Society judging program, and I have been an accredited AOS orchid judge since 1987. I also enjoy gardening in our postage stamp sized yard, hostas and daylilies being among my favorite perennials.