Tony Gasbarro honored for his work as a two-time Peace Corps volunteer



Tony Gasbarro was in Anchorage about two months ago, checking e-mail on his laptop while sitting through a meeting. One electronic message perked the interest of the professor emeritus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Cooperative Extension program: an e-mail from Peace Corps director Gaddi H. Vasquez in Washington D.C., requesting that Gasbarro call him.

Tony Gasbarro honored for his work as a two-time Peace Corps volunteer

Peace Corps honors Gasbarro

By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, Staff Writer

Tony Gasbarro was in Anchorage about two months ago, checking e-mail on his laptop while sitting through a meeting. One electronic message perked the interest of the professor emeritus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Cooperative Extension program: an e-mail from Peace Corps director Gaddi H. Vasquez in Washington D.C., requesting that Gasbarro call him.

That's when Gasbarro learned he was one of six recipients nationwide of the Kennedy Service Award to honor the service of Peace Corps volunteers, returned volunteers and staff. The award was established this year in celebration of the Peace Corps' 45th anniversary.

It's not the first time Gasbarro has been honored for his work as a two-time Peace Corps volunteer, retired professor and continued Peace Corps supporter.

Gasbarro received, among others, the Lillian Carter Award in 2003 from former President Jimmy Carter for his continued support of Peace Corps volunteers and the program's mission.

As a modest person, Gasbarro admits the pile of awards and honors he's accumulated is embarrassing at times, but the accolades also mean his conscious living of Peace Corps values has an affect on others.

"The only reason I do this (accept the awards) is to honor the people that nominated me," he said.

Gasbarro began living out the values of Peace Corps when he first served as a volunteer in 1962. He'd graduated from Colorado State University with a forestry degree and the Peace Corps sent him to the Dominican Republic to train foresters in fire control, timber sales preparation, logging road location and forest measurements.

He worked as a jointly appointed forestry professor with UAF Cooperative Extension Service and the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences upon his return. He retired after 23 years, earning an emeritus title.

Then in 1996, at the age of 57, Gasbarro joined the Peace Corps again, this time going to El Salvador. Since returning to Fairbanks in 1998, Gasbarro has traveled to El Salvador twice a year to mentor Peace Corps volunteers and as a board member of Project Salvador, a nonprofit organization involved in community development. He's also raised scholarship funds for Salvadoran youth and helped start a vision screening program in the country.

Most recently, Gasbarro has been putting his energy into developing a Peace Corps Master's International program at UAF. He serves as the volunteer coordinator and this year is co-teaching a graduate seminar in international development. He's also assisted the extension's Kenai Peninsula District office in bringing two Salvadoran university students to Alaska as part of the 4-H International Home Stay Program.

Gasbarro is a source of inspiration for those he works with at the university and a source of information for others about the places he's been and the Peace Corps mission.

"What I find most inspirational for me personally is just seeing the overwhelming needs in that country and his continued optimism and ability to continue this kind of work," said Debra Damron, UAF Extension communications director.

His eternally optimism makes those around him believe small acts can make a difference, Damron said, but he also remains down to earth.

"I try to get him to help me learn Spanish better," she said, laughing.

Gasbarro expresses no interest in slowing down. As he approaches 67, Gasbarro said he is considering another turn in the Peace Corps, maybe in three or four years.

There is no age limit, he said and the oldest volunteer serving right now is 82.

"Age has its benefits and it has its problems," he said.

But he has work in Fairbanks and El Salvador to complete before leaving Fairbanks as a volunteer for two years. He continues building up the masters program at UAF, serving as a founding member of the Northern Alaska Peace Corps Friends group and making his biannual trips to El Salvador, an arrangement he said suits him well.

"I really think I've found my niche," he said. "I think I have nice integrated package."

Staff writer Margaret Friedenauer can be reached at 459-7545 or mfriedenauer@newsminer.com .

When this story was posted in April 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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