BIOGRAPHY:

Anyone who has seen a Nordhoff HS musical is familiar with the talents of Ojai Living Treasure, John Mirk. For the past 20 years, Mirk has volunteered to design, build, and paint the sets for musicals staged at Matilija Auditorium. His set design credits include, Crazy for You, Grease, West Side Story, Pirates of Penzance, and many more.

An architect by trade, John served on the Ojai Planning Commission. He retired after 21 years, the longest serving commissioner.

Originally from Connecticuit, receiving his degree in architecture at Rice University, came out west and landed in Monterrey where he worked as an architect for 20 years. He and his family moved to Ojai in 1994. While working for local architect, David Bury, he got involved in local theater.

While building sets, he gets parents and kids involved in the construction. "It's a real opportunity for kids to get in there and make something."

His long list of volunteering includes Help of Ojai, where he built a computer lab and taught computer classes, the Ojai Art Center, and making exhibits for the Ojai Valley Museum.

An avid cyclist, he put in many volunteer hours with the Channel Islands Bicycle Club, creating new databases, editing the club's newsletter and organizing cycling events.

Dr. Richard Gould observed: "He's a silent force who has done a lot of good."