Malcolm and Marjorie Stringer have been residents of Reston since 1971. Though they have seen Reston go through many transformations since they first moved here, they still feel this is the ideal place to live. "It’s hard to think of anything you’d want to change," said Marjorie Stringer. "I can’t think of anything I’d like to change about the community I live in."
The Stringers have been active volunteers in the organization of FISH (Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help) for more than 20 years. They both have held various positions in FISH and The Bargain Loft — a thrift store subsidiary of FISH — during their years of volunteer service.
"Our life is pretty much FISH, we are out here seven days a week," said Malcolm Stringer while working at the Bargain Loft. "We know so many people that come out and buy stuff and we’re both here because we love the organization and we believe in it." Recently the couple was honored by FISH at the second annual FISH Fling Gala and Fund-raiser for their commitment to the community and the organization.
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What is your favorite local restaurant to go to?
[Malcolm:] Euro Bistro in Herndon, if you haven’t been there try it, you’ll love it. Wonderful food, outstanding and reasonably priced. If you go there you will go back.
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
[Malcolm:] "The lovely little town of Banff, Canada. I’ve been there and it’s the most lovely little town in the Canadian Rockies. It is the most scenic area in the world, it has hot springs, it has everything. It’s clean, you won’t even find a cigarette butt on the ground.
What is your favorite TV show?
[Marjorie:] I don’t know if I want to admit it, Desperate Housewives. I love that show. [laughing]
What are your favorite hobbies?
[Malcolm:] Bowling, golf, reading and crossword puzzles.
[Marjorie:] Crossword puzzles is my hobby and reading — reading the paper everyday is my goal. I also like knitting and crocheting — I have been doing that all my life.
How would you like to spend a day?
[Marjorie:] I’d like to be out on the water on a boat trip. I’d like to be out on the Atlantic, not fishing or anything, just out there with waves, the sun and the spray.
Where would you go on an all-expense paid vacation?
[Malcolm:] I would say Japan.
[Marjorie:] I think I’d like to go to India and see the Taj Mahal
What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
[Malcolm:] That technically I am an introvert. Nobody believes that, everyone thinks I am the world’s biggest extrovert.
If you could meet anyone in history, who would you meet?
[Malcolm:] I would say Abraham Lincoln, he is one most important president’s this country has ever had based on what he did.
What is one thing about the community that a new resident wouldn’t know about?
[Malcolm:] They may have heard of FISH and know they help people and others have heard about the Bargain Loft and that they take donations, they don’t always relate the two.
What is the most interesting item you’ve had at The Bargain Loft?
[Marjorie:] One of the interesting things we have had was a propeller for a small plane and we have also had a harpoon. Those items sold very quickly, now we use eBay to sell those kinds of items.
[Malcolm:] If I would’ve been pricing this stuffed bear that we came across, I would’ve thrown it in the trash. It’s shop worn but happily one of our pricers looked it up and found it was $600 in mint condition. Well this was not in mint condition.
What is your favorite part about working with FISH and The Bargain Loft?
[Marjorie:] It’s like Christmas morning. You get all the donations and you open the boxes and go ‘Look at this’ and ‘Look at that’ — it’s the finding different things and the camaraderie with all the other volunteers.
[Malcolm:] It helps supplement my retirement time. It gives me a lot to do in addition to golfing and bowling ...To be honest with you this is part of our life. Sometimes I think it is our only life.