Wayland -

 

When Wayland’s John and Kathy Heckscher received a community service award from Baypath Elder Services last autumn for their volunteer work with the town’s Council on Aging, they were truly astonished to have been singled out.
"We were honored to be chosen, of course," John said, "but there are many other people here who do a lot of volunteer work quietly and behind the scenes. And they deserve recognition as well."
The couple has lived in Wayland since 1969 and raised two daughters here. Before retirement, John worked as a researcher and program manager at Hanscom Air Force Base, and Kathy went on from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming a teaching assistant at Happy Hollow Elementary School. They retired in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
John’s "second career" was launched at a concert in Boston, where he ran into Wayland’s John Antes, who has been a longtime volunteer at the COA.
"John Antes asked me what I was doing in retirement," he recalled. "I said ‘not much.’"
With that, Antes pounced. "‘Why don’t you come down to the Senior Center and help out with Meals on Wheels?’"
Heckscher did, starting out as a driver, delivering hot lunches to homebound residents. He then branched out, so that today, he is also on the COA’s "Fix-it Crew," which undertakes light chores and repairs for local seniors. In addition, as a member of the Retired Men’s Association, a volunteer organization, he recently got a group together to paint the interior of the Senior Center. According to the staff there, they did an outstanding job.
For her part, Kathy is a monthly coordinator, telephone volunteer and calendar coordinator for F.I.S.H. (Friends in Service Helping), a group that drives older residents to medical appointments. She also sometimes accompanies John on his fix-it rounds.
Wheels on Meals, John said, serves a twofold purpose.
"Not only are we delivering hot meals five days a week, but we also function as a kind of unofficial monitor. Once, for instance, I found an elderly resident whose wheelchair had become entangled outdoors on a very cold day."
Heckscher was able to extricate the man and probably saved his life. Another time, a resident was non-responsive. Heckscher called 911, and the person was found just to have been asleep after a particularly bad night.
As for the fix-it work, it varies. One time, Heckscher accompanied a resident to Home Depot to get parts so that he could fix an outdoor faucet.
"I actually got a Christmas card from the guy," he said.
On other occasions, he has moved furniture, removed air conditioners for the winter, and helped an individual set up a camera/printer combination with his computer.
In addition, he has recently volunteered to teach a beginning computer class at the COA starting next month.
In her work for F.I.S.H., Kathy logs in phone calls from people needing rides and then coordinates between them and the drivers. Also, as a monthly coordinator, she keeps track of the records and troubleshoots when necessary.
"I was a teacher, and I like people," she said. "I get a reward out of meeting and helping. This gives me an outlet."
As for John, "We’re fortunate that I have a good retirement. So we don’t have to worry very much about where the next paycheck is going to come from. This seemed a good thing to do. And the need is obviously there."

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