“We actually met at a hockey game,” he said. “ We were introduced by friends and hit it off right away.”
They discovered they both were basketball players and each was working toward a business degree. It was easy to find lots to talk about.
Liz grew up in Houlton graduating from Houlton High School in 1993, where she was a standout athlete. She was a starter all four years for the Lady Shires and recognized as being both a 1,000-point scorer and rebounder. She was a member of four Eastern Maine Championship teams with one state championship during her career. When she met this 6-foot, 8-inch basketball player, she had just transferred from UMO to the New Hampshire college.
Following graduation in 1996, Ken took a job at a golf course in eastern Long Island for the summer and they saw each other whenever they could. In the fall, Ken left to play professional basketball in England for a year, while Liz continued her studies and playing basketball. She flew to see Ken play over Columbus Day weekend, thanks to her coach who allowed her to go. Ken returned to Long Island after that year, working at the same golf course and coaching basketball at Southampton College.
After his return, he and Liz went in different directions and somewhat lost track of each other. Then in the spring of ‘99 a friend of Ken’s became head coach at Franklin Pierce and asked Ken to be his assistant. As he was packing for the move, he came across some childhood photos of Liz. He is really not sure how he happened to have them, maybe it was fate.
He wanted to return them to her, but not knowing where she was he addressed the envelope to her parents’ home in Houlton. He included a note telling her that he found them while packing for his new job back in New Hampshire. At the same time he had some receipts and expense reports for scouting that were supposed to go to Franklin Pierce, but as he packed the photos he inadvertently included all of the receipts and reports.
When the package finally got to Liz, she read his note along with finding the unintended items that Ken had included. She called the college and left him a message.
As Ken recalled this part of their road to marriage he laughed as he said, “When I called her back we talked for 124 minutes, catching up on what we both had been doing.”
Liz had completed her master’s in education at University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and was looking for a job. They continued keeping in touch and Liz made her way back to New Hampshire where she found work as a reading specialist in a nearby school. By then Ken had become director of residential life at the college, assistant basketball coach and was taking classes for his masters degree.
Within a year they knew they wanted a future together. After they became engaged they took a trip to Las Vegas. Liz tried on wedding dresses while there and tried to convince Ken to just get married right then. However, he knew they would regret not having their family and friends to celebrate the occasion.
They set the date for June 23, 2001, at the Cathedral of Pines in Rindge near the college.
Ken said, “We were married outside in a beautiful setting.” After the ceremony the bridal party changed into more casual clothes with Converse Chuck Taylor’s high-top sneakers as gifts from the bride and groom.
“It was a great time,” said Ken.
Once married, they didn’t have a lot of time together with such busy schedules, but tried to get out for dinner once in awhile.
Ken laughed, “Liz finally caught on to their romantic rendezvous dinners, as they usually preceded a scouting assignment for an upcoming game.”
Prior to starting their family, Liz had been a second-grade teacher and a principal with her sights set on being in the central office of the school department. So she entered the doctoral program for administration. By this time they had left college living to settle in the community of Fitzwilliam. In 2005 their first son, Zachariah was born, followed by, Isaiah in 2006 and Victoria in 2008. She received her doctorate in 2013 and the following year the Ervins welcomed twin daughters, Alexandria and Olivia in October. By this time Liz was an assistant superintendent in Athol, Mass.
The Ervin family had spent as much time in the Houlton area as possible so their children would be close to their grandparents, Dan and Sherry Nelson and extended family. Ken came to appreciate the community spirit of Houlton and the slower lifestyle.
What would it be like to make a move here? When would the time be right without the disruption to the children’s schooling? Ken said that even though Liz was the former resident of Maine, he was the driving force to move to Houlton.
Although he has family in New England they weren’t close by. Each time he and Liz visited Houlton, they looked at the real estate available. During one visit that Ken had come with the kids by himself he found what he thought was the perfect home, not far from the center of town, the library, the high school, the rec center and close to grandparents. They bought the house and Liz started applying for superintendent positions.
She was the finalist for a couple of openings in the County and was hired by the Washburn school department. They were all moved by last July. The kids were involved at the ‘Just For Kids’ program through the Rec Center and meeting new friends. Life was good.
There were not as many jobs available for Ken, but with a degree in business and his experience with sports he applied for a position with Olympia Sports and was hired as a manager trainee. He is also teaching a night class for Northern Maine Community College and working with the UMPI Trio Program in both Houlton and Hodgdon.
As everyone was settling into new schools and jobs, Liz noticed some discomfort. At first it was thought she had shingles or a pulled muscle in her lower rib area. Then, one night, one of the toddlers inadvertently gave her a kick in the upper chest and she felt a lot of pain. Feeling uneasy about her condition she proceeded to go to the doctor for a checkup. The tests revealed that it was breast cancer and it was also in the bones. Liz feels fortunate that it was discovered at this time as the doctors told her if it had gone undetected any longer her chances for treatment would not have been so good. She is responding positively to chemotherapy and still meeting each day with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes.
“Liz is up and out the door between 6:30 and 7 each morning for the trek to Washburn,” said Ken. “Her days extend into the evening sometimes to accommodate board meetings and other obligations.”
Ken takes over at home to get everyone off to school and the little ones to Liz’s mom when he has to work.
“We have always supported each other personally and professionally,” said Ken. “We are teammates. Our kids always come first and we just have to figure out how to make it all work.”
They are so thankful to have made the move to be near family and friends. The Houlton High School Athletic Boosters and sports department hosted the final varsity games a few weeks ago with proceeds to be shared with the Ervin family and Addie Woods, a student at Hodgdon High School diagnosed with leukemia. Alumni Gymnasium was a sea of pink and orange to support Breast Cancer Awareness and Leukemia.
Ken said, “We are overwhelmed with the support from our families, the community, friends and even people we don’t know. I have never witnessed such a community as Houlton. This is the way a town should be.
“We feel so fortunate to be here and have our children welcomed like they have been,” he continued. “They had the opportunity to sit on the bench at the game with the players. They were each given a basketball signed by all of the coaches and players. Tori also got to hang out with the cheerleaders and was given a hair bow autographed with their names. Even before this, the high school students always took the time to speak to our children. They had met them at the summer rec program.”
“That day was so special for our family,” said Ken, “we will never forget it.”
When asked if they were doing anything special for Valentine’s Day, he replied, “Our celebrations for any holiday always include being with family and we decide together what we are going to do. Tori will probably organize activity centers and everyone will do a different activity. We are all about family.”
Ken recalled a time that Liz had shared a ride in the car with Tori who was about 5 years old at the time. She said “Mommy, every second of your life is time.”
How observant for such a young child. Just recently while at Olympia Sports with her dad Tori took a Post-It note, drew a happy face and wrote, “It’s good to smile.” She stuck it on the cash register. It is still there reminding whoever sees it, “that it is good to smile.”
And through it all, Ken’s Valentine always has her smile.
