Virginia Alexander, Reiteralm Weimaraners
06/09/1928 – 05/19/2011
Jinny, you always were a woman of action, it was time to go and you were gone – before I could say goodbye.
The last card we sent with pictures of your dogs will get there a day too late, but my heart knows you realize just how much I will always love and respect you.
I never dreamed those many years ago when you asked a complete stranger to share breakfast at Lake Murray Lodge that it would change so many lives.
I was stunned that this genteel little lady from Maryland with the huge spark in her eye and a memory like the sharpest razor knew all about my Schultzpuppy, his breeding, and what he and I had done so far in the field. Incredible!
I was so excited about field trialing and so proud of my boy. All I had to say was that I wanted to train a few dogs to prove myself and you were there for me Jinny!
No one loved our Weimaraner breed more. You had boundless energy and enthusiasm to share that love and excitement with anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Your legacy is one of a kind. Your bible of our breed is unsurpassed. Your breeding program has created such great dogs. Your sometimes stubborn, insistent dedication to your Weimaraner way frustrated some, but the welcome you gave to so many new people is your greatest gift of all.
You encouraged and mentored so many Weimaraner owners, you made all of us feel like you were their good friend.
Thanks for always being there for me, through good times and bad. Once loyal friends proved otherwise, but you were steadfast in your belief and support of my dream and talent to train our gray field dogs.
When I called discouraged and angry about people and events you were matter of fact and positive, always a voice of wisdom and reason to someone with less perspective and patience. When people let you down you were deeply wounded but never uttered an angry, hateful word. You were always a class act, always loyal to family and friends.
You are the only human being to ever show me unconditional support and faith, it is the greatest gift anyone could dream off. Thank you so much Jinny.
So, farewell for now my best friend. I hope to catch up to you again sometime down the road. Give Schultz, Rudi, Saga and the other dogs that we loved and parted with a kiss and hug for me.
I can still see you crawling on the ground taking the best picture possible, and making God-awful squeaking noises to try to get the dogs attention.
I hear you laughing as you pass around goodies to hungry, tired souls in from running dogs in the rain or cold.
I see you offer a gentle, firm hand in greeting to new puppy people with gray bundles of energy in tow.
“Jinny Alexander,” you say in that warm, quiet way of yours, and you take them under your wing.
God has you under his gentle wing now. Bless you and we will hold you close in our hearts, minds and souls until it is our time to talk dogs again.
Namaste forever.
The way many of us remember Jinny. Photo courtesy of Chuck Curtis
About Steve Reynolds
Wonderful words Steve. Truly a great lady and mentor to many. I only spoke to Jinny once, but she spent over an hour being an ambassador for the breed. She will be missed.
Dang. I met her at the Nationals in WA two years ago, and spoke with her twice – once just before I got my first Weim (and she knew his sire, dam and owners on both sides), and again when I ordered my copy of the latest release of Weim Ways (she remembered my dog!). She even got to meet my old guy at the 2009 Nationals (he wasn’t competing).
Gentle journey, Jinny.
Well done Steve. I’ve enjoyed Virginia’s book for many years. I spoke with her once on the phone and she was very encouraging in helping me. She will be missed indeed.
My heartfelt condolences to Steve, to you Anne…. and to our entire breed. That was beautiful. My tears join so many others. God speed Jinny.
saddened to hear this ….. I bought Weimaraner Ways back in 1989 when I got my first weim Ashley ….. RIP Jinny …. you will be missed dear lady
Wonderful tribute from Steve.
I am so sorry to hear the sad news about the passing of our friend and mentor, Ginny Alexander. I’m very proud to have known Ginny and have learned a lot from and through her over the years. I have the first edition of her book Weimaraner Ways. A lovely keepsake of a lovely woman and renowned breeder and geneticist. RIP Ginny – please take care of all our grey friends at the Rainbow Bridge until we all meet again. God speed dear friend. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥<3<3<3<3<3
Sincere condolences to Ginny's family and friends all over the world.
Wonderfully, written Steve.
I never met her, but I appreciate her legacy.
A wonderful tribute Steve to a woman who mentored you and this breed of dog. A very sad passing.
Condolences to all who knew her.
Love and sympathy to all who knew her, and to those who knew of her. The world is worse with her absence. I will miss her.
Touching tribute to one of the breeds greatest ambassadors. I was always amazed at the depth of her knowlede, both past and present and her ability to remember people, dogs and conversations she’d had with you. Truly an enomous loss to the Weimaraner world.
You made me cry. I will always have fond memories of Ginny’s phone calls giving me yet one more task to do for the book. She was so spunky you just couldn’t tell her you didn’t have enough time. My favorite memory will always be riding in the dog wagon at Ardmore with her when the truck slid into the ditch. She gave me her camera to take her picture before we got her out. She laughed so hard.
You have my condolences at the loss of your best friend.
I remember that story! LOL It’s so her too.