Dear Readers,

I interviewed a rocket scientist, teacher with the Peace Corps and computer technician/actor. Each took a different path in life and yet they all share one thing in common. When they retired, each individual wanted to volunteer. All three chose to become a Via Volunteer driver. If you remember from other blogs, Via mobility services is an agency that provides, among other things, transportation for seniors and those with disabilities. Why did these three choose Via? What can we learn from this trio of inspiring individuals? 

 

Let’s start with introductions. Peggy Bangham, age 69, was a school teacher and Peace Corps worker who traveled around the world. Tom Priestly, now 64 years old, worked as a Computer Systems Administrator with University of Colorado in Boulder for much of his working years.  Makoto “Jeff” Sugano, now 71, was an aerospace engineer, or what we think of as a “rocket scientist”.

As varied as they are, I noticed a similarity. Each one could be admired for their willingness to follow a non-traditional path. Peggy’s interest in traveling the world sparked when she traveled to South America at age 23. The trip was organized by her great-aunt, and it changed the trajectory of Peggy’s life.  Peggy told me her aunt’s example as a world traveler inspired her to keep exploring.  Tom grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. As a child, he was inspired by his parents and uncle who owned the town’s newspaper; Tom’s dad was a local movie producer.  This fed Tom’s later years to work in the creative field of acting. Yes, his day job as a computer engineer paid the bills, but I see Tom’s eyes light up when he talks about his stage work. By the age of 7-years-old, young Jeff had a dream to be a space scientist. He devoured science fiction books and movies and his mom took him often to museum shows with a focus on space. He remembers, at age ten, hearing Russia’s Sputnik sounds on a radio show.  Sputnik was the first satellite to be placed in orbit and the “beep beep” sounds were recorded from space and played on an NBC radio program. “I was glued to the radio, and it cemented my future,” Jeff said. Readers, did you have a dream or interest from childhood?

Peggy, first traveled abroad to Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands; Peru, in the Amazon and Machu Picchu, Panama and the San Blas Islands and several sites in Guatemala.  “Quite the adventure for a young whippersnapper,” she said. She trained to be a teacher, but in the late 70s, she could not find a teaching job here in the states.  Her mom saw an ad in the newspaper about a Peace Corps recruiting event. Peggy attended and said, “I fell in love with the idea of living and working in a developing country overseas”.  Her adventures started.  A year later, Peggy moved to Paraguay where she lived and worked for three years. 

That was only the beginning of a longstanding career serving as a teacher of all ages, administrator, and teacher/trainer to other educators. She was often sent to other countries to set up the teaching programs. She served in Washington, DC; Waukegan, Illinois; Medellin, Colombia; Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union; Bulgaria; Kingdom of Tonga; Longmont Colorado; Daegu, South Korea; Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily, Italy and then to Rota Navy Station in Rota, Spain.  Readers, what do you learn when you interact with people from other cultures or ethnicity?

One of the highlights of Peggy’s career was when a school was named after her. Peggy said it was the “coolest thing that ever happened to me”. It was during her Peace Corps work in Paraguay.  The reason she was honored was because Peggy, with two other Paraguayan educators, would visit the school and provide teacher training and teacher/ classroom observation. Peggy said the school was “absolutely falling apart”. The structure of the building was shaking; it housed dirt floors and makeshift desks. The teachers asked Peggy, “Will you help us get a new school building?” This was in 1980. Peggy didn’t know how she was going to do it, but with the help of the Peace Corps office and USAID (United States Agency for International Development) they received five thousand dollars. The Paraguayans in the town also helped when Peggy organized raffles and movie nights to raise funds. Using a 26-millimeter projector, Peggy would show whatever footage she could get – such as the wedding of Princess Diane. She also was able to get film of some old television shows. A favorite was the old black-and-white filmed series Combat! from the 60s. 

While small by our American standards of construction costs, the $5000 and the money raised by the town afforded the school officials to build a new two-room building with tile roof, floors, chalkboards and new desks. As well, it also allowed for a new latrine, new well and a flag pole. The people in the town said it was “mui chuchi”. (English translation: very beautiful/fancy). It served 80 students – 1st through 6th grades – who attended in shifts. 

The school was called Escuela Graduada 1443 Margaret Bangham (translation in English is Graduate School). When it was time to give her acceptance speech, Peggy was so overcome with emotions that tears flowed. Her Peace Corps boss had to finish Peggy’s speech. Then years later, due to a law change, the school was renamed Nino Jesus (translation Baby Jesus). The law change came about when Dictator Alfredo Stroessner was kicked out of Paraguay in 1989. The new law said that nothing can be named after someone who is alive. 

During her years working in Colorado, Peggy taught ESOL (English to speakers of Other Languages) in the St Vrain Valley school district. She is now retired and living in Longmont. I asked Peggy if she felt settled and she answered with a smile, “I’m always looking for the next adventure”. Earlier this year, Peggy traveled to Antarctica, the ice-covered landmass that is home to the South Pole. To get to this uninhabited southernmost continent, Peggy had to reach Antarctica by a cruise ship. Depending on travel restrictions based on COVID-19 concerns, Peggy had more travel plans. This spring, she wanted to travel to Greece with Road Scholar – American nonprofit organization that provides educational travel programs for older adults. Peggy had planned to visit friends on US Military Bases in Sicily and southern Spain and take a short hop to Hungary.  As well, she hoped to go to Rhode Island for a niece’s college graduation. In the fall she was scheduled to go overseas with Habitat for Humanity Global Village to Nepal – a country on the continent of Asia that lies along Himalayan mountain ranges. For now, those plans are on hold until we get through this challenging time of the coronavirus. 

Our second volunteer, Tom Priestly, left his hometown in New Mexico in 1974 for a three-year stint in the Army. He was stationed at Ft. Mead, Maryland and specialized as a general construction equipment operator. After completing his service to our country, Tom returned to his home state. There, he completed his college degree in computer technology and started working in his field. 

However, by 2008, Tom said he grew “tired of computer work and needed a break”. He moved to Wisconsin to be a heavy equipment operator. For those of you who might remember, 2008/2009 was the years of the construction recession and quickly the need diminished for heavy equipment operators. Tom said he “stuck it out for two years,” and then in 2010, he moved back to the west. He settled in Longmont, Colorado and started looking for work. How do you adjust to changes, Readers? Did a world event change your career trajectory?

While interviewing in the computer field, to pay the bills, Tom took a job as a Via bus driver. This meant he was the driver for people who were seniors and/or people with disabilities. Then, he found work as a computer systems administrator and completed his career working for University of Colorado in Boulder. 

Before you picture most of Tom’s life as sitting across from a computer, let me paint another side to him. Tom loves the theater and he has a rich, deep actor’s voice. He had been involved in theater work during his years living in New Mexico and Colorado. He was an actor, technician and stage hand. In both states, for fifteen years of his life, Tom also performed in a couple of Barbershop quartets, as well as several different choruses.

In Tom’s acting career, he shined in some of his more popular roles. He played Caiaphas in the musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar”. He was a Sanhedrin, one of the supreme council members during the period of Jewish history when the trial of Jesus took place.  Another great stage performance was when he played Mr. Boddy in Clue the Musical. As Mr. Boddy, he was the owner of Tudor Manor.  He entertained as host of the musical, as well as the one who was murdered. His murder feeds the central storyline as the cast investigates who murdered Mr. Boddy, with what weapon and in what room. 

Tom also attended the Denver Center for Performing Arts when he took voice-over lessons as an extension of his acting. With his deep baritone bass voice, people often asked him “are you in radio?” So, in 2019, Lisa Bitzer, Via’s Director of Paratransit & Mobility Services, took advantage of that voice.  It was time to update Via’s programmed phone answering service and Tom agreed to let them use his voice for the updating.  Now, when you call Via, Tom is the first voice you will hear. 

Last, but not least featured is our third volunteer, Jeff – the rocket scientist. Truly, he is. I felt like I was interviewing royalty or something like that. How often do you get to sit and talk with the scientist who helped design our space shuttles that fly into orbit? It was like a Master Class in the world of Space Technology. For me, I had to keep asking Jeff to break down his explanations in layman’s terms. Readers, I wondered how much of a challenge that might have been for Jeff to explain his career to me. I tried to imagine myself in his shoes as he talked about his work. How do you communicate when discussing difficult or challenging topics? 

Jeff received his first degree with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. It was 1970, and he then started his Master’s program but was interrupted by life – the Vietnam War.  Jeff fulfilled his military commitment by attending and graduating from the Air Force Officers Training School in Lackland, Texas. During those four years, Jeff served as a Flight Test Engineer. “I was the only one in my family to fly supersonically”, Jeff said. It’s called Mach 2 – meaning twice the speed of sound. Now for those of us who are not rocket scientists, it means he was traveling at about 1000 miles per hour.

Jeff said that during his military years, he went through a personal time of reflection and change. Raised in the Buddhist traditions, by the time he was a young man, with his scientific views, he did not give his spiritual life any attention. “Remember, I was a scientist, so it was not important”, he said. However, he became friends with one of his fellow officers and this young man would invite Jeff to his home for dinner. His friend also talked to Jeff about his faith. Eventually, Jeff began attending church. One statement Jeff remembers that left a deep impression on him was when his friend said, “If you ask Jesus into your heart, your life will change for the better.” Jeff’s mind started to change and he realized “this was something I could sink my teeth into,” he said. About week after this conversation, Jeff did ask Jesus into his heart. 

Jeff’s first interview after military service was with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA is our country’s space program and research agency.  Astronaut, Fred Hayes interviewed Jeff. Fred was a pilot who traveled on Apollo 13 and has flown to the moon – an accomplishment that can only be said by 24 astronauts.  Jeff was hired to work at NASA Manned Space Center – known as Johnson Space Center – in Houston, Texas. During his first two years, Jeff served as mission controller. This was in `1976; it was another five years until the first United States space shuttle – the Columbia – would circle our orbit. Jeff’s job was working on the engineering needed for all the many test runs leading up to the official 1981 launch. He had to make sure the test shuttles would take off and land correctly. Jeff also worked five years for NASA designing the flight software for the shuttle training aircraft. This work allowed opportunities for Jeff to ride in the shuttles on test runs to make sure the software was working correctly. 

In his personal life, he found a Christian faith-based church in Texas and became friends with a group of others who were single and attending the church. One of the young people was Canadian-immigrant, Diane. She and Jeff could relate on many levels and the two became friends. After several years, their friendship blossomed into love, then engagement and a 1982 wedding followed. 

During those years in Texas, Jeff was working full-time and attending school part-time at the University of Houston. He graduated with two more degrees: an M.B.A. in 1979 in Business Administration and four years later, he finished his M.S. in Process Monitoring & Control. 

Eventually, he and his wife Diane transferred to the NASA site at Ames Research Center, California. Jeff served as a simulation engineer for the next two years. This means he designed the software that imitates the motion of the shuttle – an important factor for future astronauts to experience as part of their training. 

 In 1984, Jeff and Diane became expecting parents, and they knew it was time to return to their home in Texas. For the next thirty years, living in Texas, Jeff’s family grew to include three children: Andrea, Brian and Carlin.

NASA often, contracts other companies and outsources the work needed in the space field. Jeff worked for several such companies – always aerospace technology and always under NASA contract work. Eventually, his career also developed to the point that he was in management positions.

Then larger world events influenced Jeff’s career. It was the 2009 Great Recession. As Jeff describes it, “the economy was going downhill fast.” This also meant less money for space research and NASA had to start looking at layoffs. Jeff was approached to start looking at how to implement cutting some of the 25-member team that he managed. Jeff didn’t want any of his co-workers to lose their jobs. He was close to retirement, so he proposed to his bosses that he would retire early to keep the other teammates in place.

Jeff was 61-years-old, and he said of that time, “I didn’t know how to retire properly”. Jeff’s wife was still working as an artist and teacher, and Jeff drifted into volunteer roles to fill his time. One position he took on was being a volunteer with AARP to help seniors fill out their tax forms. 

Three years later, Jeff heard about a company in Colorado contracted by NASA to build the “Dream Chaser”. This was a mini shuttle that would only carry several people. Jeff was hired to be the simulation engineer. To get an image of the smaller size – the Space Shuttle is four times longer and nine times heavier than the Dream Chaser. Jeff and Diane moved to Louisville, Colorado. Soon after arriving, they bought a home and five years ago, Jeff officially retired again. 

 So, now we have, at this point in our story, three individuals who have reached retirement stage. Many of us have asked ourselves – what does retirement look like? For Peggy, Tom and Jeff, part of their picture meant finding agencies with which they could align themselves that would allow them time to serve others and support that non-profit’s mission. Readers, if you are in retirement years, how have you adjusted to this season of your life?

Before the pandemic, Peggy volunteered at the Welcome Desk twice a month at Longmont United Hospital. She also volunteered during tax season with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), an IRS sponsored organization that prepares income taxes free of charge for qualified tax payers. For now, those roles are on hold. However, over the phone she was consulted as a Spanish interpreter.  It was 3 ½ years ago when Peggy first heard of Via. A friend’s husband used Via because of his disabilities. Her friend was “bubbling on with good things to say about Via” so Peggy stopped by their headquarters to find out more about the organization and the volunteer opportunities. She became a Via volunteer driver. Since then, Peggy had a time when she too needed Via’s services. She had knee surgery and could not drive. So, she also became a Via rider for about four weeks. Via drivers took her to medical appointments and physical therapies. Before the pandemic, Peggy would drive for Via one day a week in the winter and two days a week in the summer. She has also recently scoped out and applied to become a Meals On Wheels volunteer

After Tom retired from the university, he remembered his enjoyment with Via and offered to volunteer. “I have an affliction that works well with Via. I talk too much”, he says in his self-deprecating humor. Tom said the passengers are like family, and he and the riders both look forward to picking up conversation from when they last saw each other. Before COVID-19, Tom would volunteer every Thursday from 9 to 4:30 and typically had anywhere from 6 to 12 passengers a day. 

In addition, Tom continued his work onstage and behind the scenes. Right before our community’s shut-down, he was working on sound design for “Always a Bridesmaid”.  The play was scheduled to open in June.  He was also working on a crowd favorite – “The Twilight Zone,” for an October premiere.  Dates for both programs are still to be determined. In the meantime, as the video producer with the Theater Company of Lafayette, Tom is working with the team creating theatrical video productions to be viewed online. 

Retirement allowed Jeff to volunteer as a consultant to help individuals who needed help with their budgeting challenges: reducing debt and saving more. Additionally, he again continued his role – like he had been doing in Texas with AARP as a tax counselor. Here in Colorado, Jeff attended an AARP training that was held in the Via Mobility Service office in Boulder. A Via employee popped into the training and announced that Via was looking for people to become volunteer drivers.  So how does a rocket scientist become a Via volunteer? You say yes. Still treading the unknown, Jeff interviewed with Via, and became its very first volunteer driver. 

Jeff said, “I had just retired for a second time and was looking for something to do”. The AARP tax counseling was only during the months of January through April and he was looking for something year-round. He also liked the flexibility of being able to choose the amount of time that he wanted to give to Via. In addition, as a practical technician, Jeff likes that his car can be put to good use by driving people around. So, before social distancing, here is what Jeff’s volunteering schedule included: two days a week as a tax counselor at AARP Tax Aide program in Louisville and Erie. That has been put on hold, but plans are to be back in 2021. Wednesdays he was the Volunteer Ambassador for Mobility for All for Boulder County (Erie district) and that work continues with virtual meetings. On Thursdays he drove for Via throughout Boulder County. With the pandemic, paid drivers are doing the transporting, but Lisa hopes that it will not be long before they are calling back volunteers.  In addition, by phone, Jeff continues volunteering as a financial counselor at Calvary Bible Church at Erie and Boulder (any day of the week) where he provides counseling on average for 2 to 4 couples/individuals each month.

Peggy, in reflection said, “Peace Corps experiences changed my life. Getting to know the people, the language, the culture and history widened my world view.” She said she saw that “not everyone was as comfortable and had as many things as Americans do. Many in our world don’t have electricity, they pull water from a well, but they are often generous, happy and hardworking”. She said her travels have allowed her to bring to Via her bilingual communication skills, but also her sensitivity to other cultures. She also had previous experiences with people with physical limitations. “That training, awareness and understanding came with me to Via”.

Tom said, “I like the people” and added, “Via has a wonderful energy and philosophy.” Tom looks forward to his conversations with the riders. He loves their interesting stories, he said. To name a few, “I’ve met a dancer from Broadway and a World War II veteran who was a naval reservist from Vietnam – there are a number of interesting life stories.” Tom said he also really enjoys the comradery with the other Via employees. He respects and enjoys the relationship Via manager, Lisa Bitzer, has with the drivers, he added. Twice a year the volunteers have a meeting and bar-b-que. He jokingly says “I’ll work for food.”

Finally, Jeff said being a volunteer driver, it allowed him to “help people” while also driving around Boulder County and getting to see sites that he might not normally see in the course of his day. 

In summary, Peggy, Tom and Jeff experienced inspiration, adversity and difficult challenges.  By virtue of their nature, each – in retirement – still had a desire to serve others. Readers, I highly recommend you call Via’s Director of Paratransit & Mobility Services, Lisa Bitzer. No, don’t just call to hear Tom’s movie-star voice on the answering service. Find out how you can become a volunteer Via Driver. By making the choice to volunteer driving for folks who are seniors and/or those with disabilities – well Reader, you can improve the lives of many. As Via employees say, “Enhancing mobility is Via’s cause. Mobility is not a car or a bus—it’s the feeling of freedom that comes from knowing you can move when and where you want.”  Readers, in what ways are you helping your community?

Just as an aside, throughout the pandemic, Via has continued to serve individuals in need. They joined with Community Food Share to deliver food/grocery boxes to those who may not be in a position to cover those costs. “We’ve been able to help over 200 people,” Lisa Bitzer said. In addition, Via delivers boxes of fresh and shelf-stable food to five affordable, senior housing communities, managed by Boulder Housing Partners. Here is a link to read the details. Summer Newsletter Community Food Share (page3).

Readers George, Diana, Rho, Mary, Al, Theresa, Sam and Sally enjoyed reading more about last month’s featured person, Osvaldo Gomez. Sally and Maria said, “It looks like Osvaldo was a very interesting person to interview”. Maria added,” I like folklore dancing from different countries.” I concur with our readers. I really enjoyed interviewing Osvaldo and hearing his life story.

Until next month, may peace be at your side,

Debbie Noel

We have several ways to interact with Debbie!

• Email her at DroppingInWithDebbie@gmail.com

• Register at the blog site (very bottom of the page) to have your comments viewed online

• Send your letters to:

Debbie Noel
C/o Longmont Senior Center
910 Longs Peak Avenue
Longmont, Colorado 80501

 

NOTE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Via is continuing to serve vulnerable people in our community despite a significant decline in revenues. Your donation to Via’s Help Our Neighbors Fund will help us keep the buses rolling. Please donate https://viacolorado.org/give/

 To get more information about Tom’s plays go to the Theater Company of Lafayette website:  https://www.tclstage.org/ 

The Theater Company of Lafayette performs at the Mary Miller Theater, 300 E. Simpson Street, Lafayette, CO  80026

To watch the online productions go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ9rM2IyonfSCJNGKTNZLGw 

For more information about Via Mobility Service go to their website: www.viacolorado.org

Before the pandemic, Via had intensified its outreach for volunteer drivers. Currently, there are 27 Via Volunteer Drivers. These drivers met the need of between 550-600 trips per month. They helped to decrease the number of individuals who would otherwise be on a waitlist. This is a fantastic service that helps strengthen our community. Lisa said Via would like to increase the number of volunteer drivers to ten more by the end of 2020. Readers, you may visit Via’s website www.viacolorado.org or contact Lisa Bitzer directly at 303-473-2885 for more information about how to become a volunteer driver. Selfishly, I hope many of you are prompted by this need.

If you wish to make a donation to Via, contact Lisa Curtis by calling the Via headquarters at: 303-447-2848