Eric H. du Plessis

Du Plessis was born in France to Jean-Pierre, a World War II veteran with the British SAS and architect, and Simone Jeanne, a therapist for dyslexic children.

After a stint in medical school at the University of Paris, he immigrated to the US and settled in Richmond, Virginia.

He attended Virginia Commonwealth University, supporting himself by cleaning floors at Johnston-Willis Hospital, working as a waiter, a substitute teacher at an all-black school, and as a police officer.

He eventually returned to Virginia and became a full professor at Radford University, where he taught writing and literature until 2024 in the department of English.

As a life-long hobby, he has also been active in the field of Japanese martial arts and taught Aiki-jitsu for forty years.