Erhard Volcke

I’m going to date myself but here goes….19 years ago I met a man who would forever change my life!! I was 18 years old, working at Burger King and really had no direction in my life. My mother called me up one day and told me that there was an opening in the Retail Bakery for a cashier at Renton Technical College and it would be a great job and I didn’t have to work weekends, PERFECT!!! I applied for the job, got it but what I didn’t know was that I was going to meet a man who would help mold me into the person I am today. His name was/is Erhard Volke. He was baking teacher for the Baking Department. His first impression might scare you a little, he’s a big man, with even a bigger German accent and attitude . But once you get to know Erhard he’s just an all around great guy. The students would bake and I would prepare the baked goods to sale in the bakery. Mornings were always busy but in the afternoons I would sneak back into the bakery and would watch and participate with the other students. One day Erhard approached me and told me I should take his baking class and I told him there was no way I could ever afford it and besides I had bills to pay. So, several weeks had passed and he approached me again and told me he had found two lawyers in Seattle that would pay for my tuition, books, uniforms and supplies. I was speechless, no one had ever believe in me enough to give me a gift like this. I remember there being a little red tape to jump through but all I really cared about that Erhard believe in me enough to give me a chance in something we both passionate about. I remember buying my “whites” and my baking book and arriving at the school before class started, I was so eager to learn and to show my appreciation. I loved baking since before I step into that bakery and now as a student and I loved what I was learning and doing every day. I’m sure I had some bad baking days but I don’t remember them, I do remember a few failures which is normal when you’re learning to be a baker. My favorite station the yeast dough’s and puff pastries. I have wonderful memories of standing around the baking table, my right leg perched like a flamingo and rolling rolls for the dining room….lots and lots of rolls, especially around the holidays. I loved working with Puff Pastry and remembering how pretty my finial product looked. I studied, I passed all my tests and was lovin’ life. Then, the hired donut fryer quit and I’m not sure how it happened but I volunteered to come in at 2:30am and bake the donuts for FREE. Now keep in mind, I had school from 6am to 1:30pm then went to work at Fred Myers in the evenings and worked until 10pm and now I was going in come in and volunteer at 2:30am. I wouldn’t have traded that time in my life for anything. I learned so much about myself and about my work ethics. Volunteering all those free hours landed me a job at Renton Technical College as the donut fryer and I worked at the school for almost a year after graduation. My relationship with Erhard grew and not only would I consider him my baking mentor, he was my friend.
It was a sad day when I left RVC, I remember telling Erhard, if I could work for him and only him, I would stay forever but there were too many politics for me so I went on my way and began to live my life. For the next 10 years I supported myself and my daughter with the skills that I learned from Erhard and RTC. When I met my husband I was working in a little bakery in Bremerton and once we were engaged he told me that he didn’t wait 32 years to get married to have his soon to be bride get up in the middle of the night and leave him. So, I gave up one love for another….I know that I did the right thing.
So, its been over 16 year since I had last saw Erhard. The lines of communication have always been open through letters and emails but the timing hasn’t been right for a visit….that was until yesterday. Makenna and I were in Seattle visiting family and friends and I asked Erhard if he would like to meet at the school. It took me just a minute to recognize him because he has replaced his beard with a mustache. I took comfort in the fact that some things never change. I told Makenna that he’d been wearing jeans, some kind of western shirt, boots and a cowboy hat….I was right. We sat and talked about the old times, he wanted to know what I was doing and about my family. I often wonder if he would be disappointed that I wasn’t baking anymore but I don’t think he was. He told me about his children and what he’s doing in his spare time since retirement. I’m not sure if I can express into words the feelings that I have for this man. He believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. As he sat across the table from this man, I felt like his child and he was my proud Papa. He told me things that I would love to hear from my own fathers lips. As a drove away from the College, I felt like a million bucks!!
So, to my favorite Baker Man…thank you for being my teacher and my friend. You are the best teacher ever, look how many students keep in touch with you years and years after they leave. Thank you for giving me chance and I hope I didn’t disappoint you. Thank you for the life lesson you taught and the advice you gave your students. My favorite piece of advice you gave was, “Don’t burn your bridges, you’ll never know when you might need to cross them again”. I can’t wait for you to someday meet my husband and the rest of my children. Until then…..Happy Baking, my Friend!!!