Driscoll—Virginia M. Dau Driscoll, 82, on October 15, 2024, from brain cancer, in Greensboro, N.C. Virginia was born on July 18, 1942, to Eberhard and Jane Cyphers Dau in Pittsburgh, Pa. She had a younger brother, Paul, and a younger sister, Barbara. The family moved three times before settling on a farm in Lone Pine, Pa. When she was ten, the family moved to Mount Lebanon, Pa.
Virginia was an excellent student. From a young age, she knew that she wanted to be a teacher. Music was paramount in Virginia’s life. She studied flute, piano, and piccolo, and continued to play the flute throughout her life. She graduated from Mount Lebanon High School in 1960 and from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, in 1964, where she majored in German and elementary education and minored in music. In 1965, Virginia earned a master’s degree in German from Middlebury College in Vermont. She attended the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany, which provided Virginia the opportunity to meet her German relatives.
Virginia returned to Pittsburgh upon graduation and married Robert Driscoll on August 21, 1966. They moved to Stillwater, Okla., where she taught German for three years at Oklahoma State University. In 1968, they came to Greensboro for Bob to work in fire safety. Virginia and Bob became active at New Garden Meeting. When Bob’s faith journey led him to the Fourth Way, Virginia tried to understand what drove Bob. The New Garden community supported them both through this time, which ultimately ended in divorce.
Virginia’s commitment to Quakerism led to more than 50 years of participation, study, and leadership. She served as recording clerk and clerk of the meeting, as well as the assistant clerk for the Ministry and Counsel Committee. She taught First-day school classes and clerked the Quaker Relations Committee. She was a representative to Piedmont Friends Fellowship for more than 20 years. Virginia was a member of the Cora Worth Parsons Circle. She served as welcomer for the unprogrammed meeting for worship on Sunday mornings.
Virginia helped to establish New Garden Friends School. She was involved in helping immigrant families settle, particularly those in the Montagnard community. She was an active member of New Creation Community Presbyterian Church. Virginia participated in many community endeavors working with young children, many of them immigrants.
Virginia always wanted a big family, and made one through fostering and adopting children with diverse backgrounds and needs. She loved unconditionally. In 1978, she adopted Michael, born with cerebral palsy in 1972. She never gave up encouraging Michael to achieve what he might be able to do. He shared her love of music and developed a good voice. In 1984, she adopted as a teenager her daughter, Venus, born in 1967. Virginia created a multi-ethnic family, enhancing her rainbow community.
In addition to being a professor of German, Virginia worked for American Friends Service Committee and the Learning Institute of North Carolina, traveling across the state helping to start and then support Head Start programs. Her final working years were with the training department of the City of Greensboro. She was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi, a service sorority.
Virginia is survived by two children, Michael Driscoll and Venus Driscoll; four grandchildren; one brother, Paul Dau; and one sister, Barbara Dau.
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