READYTO RESPOND—PEFmember Rich Lessard checks containers inside theAmerican Red Cross Disaster relief transport vehicle inAlbany where he helps as a volunteer for emergency- response efforts.


Volunteer work completes life for a civil engineer


Story and photo By DEBORAH A. MILES After a long day at work, many people


like to go home and relax in front of the TV. You won’t find PEF member Rich Lessard doing that. He’s hooked on helping people, and spends his evenings and weekends making a difference in the lives of those in need. During the day, Lessard works as a civil


engineer 2 at the state Department of Transportation (DOT), a job he has held for 27 years. For much of that time, he also served as a civil engineering officer at the Air National Guard. He’s been retired from the guard for almost three years, and has become involved with the American Red Cross, Community Hospice and Joseph’s House and Shelter. As a treat for himself, he volunteers as an usher at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. “I’ve reached a point where I am


entering the second half of my life. In the first half, I was focused on establishing myself in my careers with the state and the Air National Guard, and with my family. My primary concern was to raise my two sons as happy, well-rounded, successful adults. Now that they are reaching adulthood and somewhat independent, my focus has become more outward, beyond


family,” Lessard said. And he is doing just that. Every


weekend, you can find him at Community Hospice helping to improve the quality of life for those in their final months or hours. This is where he spends the majority of his volunteer time. At the American Red Cross, he is a


disaster services volunteer helping staff with emergency-response efforts. Lessard has assisted people in Dutchess and Columbia counties who were flood victims and lost power. He’s helped with various emergencies such as damage caused by snow and ice storms around the Capital Region and Catskills. “I haven’t helped with a national


disaster, such as a hurricane or tornadoes, but I would like to help with that type of response if something happens in the future,” Lessard said. A few times a month, you can find


Lessard volunteering at Joseph’s House and Shelter for the homeless. “Joseph’s House has an overflow


program. It doesn’t have enough rooms so a partner program with area churches was developed three years ago. Each month, a different church gives up some space to house up to 10 men each night. During my overnight stays with them, I try to be a


comforting presence by providing them security and companionship, while treating each of them with respect and dignity,” Lessard said. For all his life, Lessard has been active


in his church. He’s a part of the parish council, finance committee, launched a men’s group, joined the choir and has made three trips to Guatemala to support his church’s sister parish. “Life is really a gift,” Lessard said. “My


volunteer work is a good way to show appreciation for my own life. Some people volunteer for self-satisfaction. My son challenges me by saying I get satisfaction by helping. That is a part of it, but I really just want to help other people. Life is full of challenges, and you have to take them on.” Charles Kelefant, a PEF steward at


DOT, said Lessard’s contributions are a challenge to everyone to do more for communities. “State employees care about people in


need,” Kelefant said. “The recent news media’s coverage unfairly fosters a false image of public employees as being removed from today’s economic hardships.” “Some people need a scapegoat,”


Lessard added. “The media often plays to the fears and prejudices of uninformed people. As a result, people who believe all media reporting typically get just a part of the whole story. The truth is found in the whole story. It’s too bad people don’t have an opportunity to see exactly what services state employees provide and why. If they did, I feel they would understand and appreciate more of what we do.”


LET’S GETWALKING – News cameras are rolling as PEF President Ken Brynien kicks off a heart walkApril 6 in Latham.Brynien is this year’s chair of the Capital Region’s chapter of theAmerican HeartAssociation.Dozens of people fromvarious offices in the neighborhood participated in the one-mile event. Similar walks took place across the country as part of National StartWalking Day.


—Photo by Deborah A.Miles www.pef.org The Communicator May 2011—Page 13


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