WASHINGTON - Friends of brutally murdered Friendship Heights area residents Michael and Virginia "Ginny" Spevak spoke about their dear friends, who they said made a huge impact on their community.

At the Green Acres School in Rockville, where Virginia Spevak taught for 20 years, music teacher Nan Shapiro can't believe two dear friends are gone. "It's very hard to come to grips with the violence that ended their lives, because they were such peacemakers -- both Ginny and Mike," Shapiro said.

The couple were active in a multitude of causes. Mike Spevak, a psychiatrist who worked with troubled youth, was also a neighborhood watch captain. Virginia taught middle school until her retirement in 2001, integrating hands-on ecology into her science classes.

Former student Ali Bullock said Virginia Spevak made learning fun. "[It was the] perfect way to teach it!," she said.

Virginia Spevak even took her classes on field trips to the couple's Chevy Chase home to see the solar panels and other energy-efficient features, so energy efficient in fact, the couple actually got money back from Pepco.

Albert Nunez did work on the house and became a good friend. He called the couple's death a "senseless act."

Virginia Spevak wore a church hat, too. She was active in the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, both socially and politically.

Louise White saw her just last Thursday. "[I'm] just crushed because she was personally such a part of my life," said White.

In addition to their many friends, the Spevaks leave behind son, Eli and daughter, Leah. Their first grandchild was born within the past year.