Habitat for Humanity East Bay

Terry Gleason

"I retired in 1998 after working as a Mechanical Engineer for US Steel, Eichleay Engineers and Kaiser Aluminum for a total of 40 years.  I am 73. 

After about a year of "honey do" projects, I decided they would never end so I looked for additional things to do.  I have always enjoyed  working with my hands on projects around the house.  At church, I heard about the HFH blitz build on Ellis street in Concord in 1999.  I missed the blitz build, but started volunteering shortly after.  I met new people and made new friendships.  I became a "regular" by working 1 to 2 days a week ever since. 

 I spend 1 or 2 days a week trying to play golf, one day working at church on the Thursday Work Crew doing maintenance and remodeling jobs, and the rest of the week helping friends and neighbors with minor home maintenance projects, and taking care of my home.  My wife of 48 years, Janice, liked to travel.  We took many trips to beautiful places in the world.  My "job" on these trips was to carry the luggage and take the pictures.  Since she passed away, I have traveled more for charity work than for sightseeing and pleasure.  I get pleasure from the charity work.

This year I helped in Houma, LA with the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church annual mission team for Katrina Relief.  I volunteer for Rebuilding Together in Oakland every April.  I helped HFH for 6 days on Kauai, Hawaii in August.  I helped in Lanette, AL on the Millard Fuller Legacy Build in September.  In November, I traveled to Thailand to work on the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter World Project in November.  Janice and I had traveled to the Chaing Mai area in Thailand in 2006, so the highlights for me were the renewing of friendships and making new friends with the volunteers.  My Carter friends got me involved with the Fuller build and I will be going to Indianapolis for the next Fuller build in September.

In 2005,  I attended my first Carter project in Detroit.  I was "hooked."  The first thing that impressed me was the detailed planning and preparation that went in to preparing for the build.  Each work site had a trailer loaded with all the tools and supplies required to complete the assigned house, all carefully loaded in sequence of use.  By the end of the week, I had made new friends.  I always look forward to seeing them at other builds around the country and the world.  I have also worked on the Carter projects in India and in Los Angles.  It's fun learning about different methods of  construction in different locations.

The people make the volunteer effort fun.  Working with volunteers who all have the same goal of helping others makes for a great work week.  Watching the new owners of a Habitat house working on their future home, knowing  I can help make their life a little easier is the big pay out. 

I always enjoy new challenges at the work sites.  Foundation work, framing, plumbing, electrical or finishing are all enjoyable jobs for me.  I like the challenge of solving and correcting problems that arise on all builds.  Sometimes it pays to read the drawings or instructions.  Rehabilitations are a big challenge for volunteers because you never know what hidden problem will arise next.  There is always something new to be learned.  I will try almost anything once."

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Curtis Gleason
Posts: 6

my brother
Reply #6 on : Thu January 28, 2010, 21:42:27

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That's my little (young) brother! I cannot say I taught him every thing he knows. He did this all on his own.
Way to go Terry!!!
Curt

Roger and Cathy
Posts: 6

Terry
Reply #5 on : Sun January 24, 2010, 14:09:30

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WHAT THIS WORLD NEEDS IS MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO NEVER TIRE OF GIVING OF THEMSELVES.

kirsten turner
Posts: 6

Terry
Reply #4 on : Sun January 24, 2010, 13:14:05

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You are awesome Terry!!! What wonderful things you do to help!

Diane Agnone
Posts: 6

Re:
Reply #3 on : Sun January 24, 2010, 01:47:46

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Great to read all about the many wonderful ways you have contributed to Habitat over the years.
From one original Mt. Diablo Habitat volunteer to another, see you on a worksite soon!

Diane Agnone
All Women's Crew Team Leader

Julie
Posts: 6

Re:
Reply #2 on : Sat January 23, 2010, 20:03:56

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Go Dad go! We are very proud of everything you do and we're behind you all the way!

Bob Roche
Posts: 6

Re:
Reply #1 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 18:58:43

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So nice to see you recognized for your contributions. Hope to see you on a job soon.