Volunteer Profiles

IN MEMORY OF
JOHN GLESMANN, DMD
1912-2002
If you met John Glesmann, DMD, you would have liked him immediately. His goodness was confirmed by his gentle face and all he said and did.

John Glesmann transported individuals unable to drive to hospital, doctor and dental appointments for 12 years. At the age of 87 he considered it a privilege to be involved in this Good Samaritan commitment. "I've always looked at my life as being fun and blessed. This is a perfect volunteer job for me because I like to stay in the background."

Dr. Glesmann was born in Nebraska and moved to Portland in 1934. He worked at Montgomery Ward for 30 cents an hour, Crown Willamette Paper Company in West Linn for $125 a month and Portland Police Department for $160 a month for a six-day week. Then, in June of 1952 he graduated from the Oregon Dental School. After serving two years in the U.S. Air Force Dental Corp, he opened his practice on 46th and Vermont Street. He was there for 25 years.

Glesmann retired in 1980 and upon the invitation of his pastor's wife at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, he began volunteering for Neighborhood House. "Oh, I also deliver our church's food for your food program," he adds.

"He is so willing to help", says Leona Overlund, volunteer transportation coordinator. "Dr. Glesmann never says no and is always very cheerful. He makes my job easy."

We had to cut the interview short because Dr. Glesmann was scheduled to take a women to Emanuel Hospital. He called her by her first name so we knew he had taken her there before on one of the over 300 rides he gave to individuals who needed assistance with transportation.

Ann Johnson , a teacher for 22 years and packed with high energy and a love of kids. How could Neighborhood House's Westside Youth and Family Services go wrong?

Johnson arrived at Westside in the fall of 1998 as a counseling intern. This month she receives her MA in Counseling from George Fox University. All the while Ann taught sixth grade at Meadow Park Middle School, attended graduate school, interned at Neighborhood House and added extra volunteer projects to her busy life.

Most of us would feel exhausted but Ann helped Neighborhood House. She was involved in the Agency Halloween Party, the Gingerbread Kingdom, and participated in the auction, Parti Gras.

"Every volunteer at Neighborhood House is special but Ann is unique. Within a week she began organizing our Halloween party and just never let up. Ann has helped us with every fund raising and organizing event this year and is a champion for Westside Youth and Family Services," says Peggy Norman, Westside program manager.

Most of Ann's life she has been involved as a volunteer. She was a Junior League member, Outward Bound instructor and is a member of the Metro West Women's Club.

This is a person who loves life. She enjoys the outdoors. Ann has owned an outdoor adventure tour company which provided cycling and back-packing trips for kids. Johnson describes her husband, Gary, as "wonderful, stable and helpful." They have twin sons, one attending Penn State and the other at Montana State. Ann worked with both the girls' and boys' groups at Westside. She comments that her "love of the kids and the fun she has with them" is what motivates her.

"I think I've just met my first saint," said a colleague who had conferred with Wanda Silverman .

"Wanda is an amazing person," states Rose Kass, Manager of the Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten Program. "Her exemplary dedication to children and education has been a life long mission."

Silverman is the Project Coordinator for a program named SKIP (Screening Kids, Informing Parents) and she does this work as a volunteer. She receives no salary!

Twelve years ago a group of education, social service and health professionals met to discuss what could be done about the alarming increase in children entering school unable to learn because of developmental delay, emotional and health problems. The result is that today, under the leadership of Silverman, SKIP provides free screening in areas of speech/language development, fine and gross motor skills, hearing, vision, health and dental needs for children, ages birth to school-age, in Multnomah County. Last year they screened about 600 children.

The children in the Oregon Head Start Prekindergarten Program and the Parent/Child Development Services Program are recipients of this free service. Says Silverman, "I've worked with the staff for several years. It is always a pleasure to see the caring way Neighborhood House staff function with the families and children." She has also served on the Advisory Committee and Health Committee for the Oregon Prekindergarten Program.

As Silverman states, "Children begin learning before they are even born, with those first few years being critical to their success in life. SKIP gives me the opportunity to provide assistance to young children and their families at a time when it makes the biggest difference. Besides, the children give wonderful hugs!"

Wanda credits her husband, Bernie, as a critical part of SKIP. Bernie is a retired chemistry professor from Portland State University who assists her with the set-up and clean-up for screenings. They have two daughters, one an engineer studying music and the other an archeologist studying to be a geological engineer.

Silverman has also served on a number of other volunteer committees and boards, including the Oregon PTA, State Board of Education and numerous statewide task forces. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Children First.

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