In Fond Memory

Charles (“Chick”) Tooker died Aug. 19, 2006 in Mill Valley, CA, after a long illness. A celebration of his life was held this June and his ashes scattered on San Francisco Bay. Chick joined Peace Corps staff in 1966 in Bogotá. As a regional director, he was responsible for approximately 300 volunteers in Cundinamarca, Meta and Boyacá.

In 1968 he became a Deputy Director for VISTA and later served as Deputy Director for the U.S. Department of Education. Chick and his wife of 27 years, Gerry Zalkovsky (PC staff, Bogotá, 1965-1967), were avid sailors. A website with photos of the memorial is being developed. Contact Gerry at 415-383-5929 or gerryzt@msn.com.

Thomas W. Mitchell (PCV, Pital, 1965-67) died April 20, 2007 of leukemia. Tom helped organize a honey cooperative in Pital, Huila. He met his first wife, PCV nurse Theresa Motyka, in Pital. They later married and had three children. After Peace Corps Tom taught social studies, did carpentry work and energy conservation consulting, and served in the fire department and as town constable of Shrewsbury, VT.

His widow, Ann Vanneman, would like to hear from all who knew Tom in Colombia. Her phone number in Shrewsbury is 802-492-3116.

Joe Therrien (PC Staff 1968-73) died May 20, 2007, at his home in Fairfax, CA, following a short illness. Joe was a Peace Corps Regional Director in Santander and Norte de Santander.

He raised his four children in Marin County with his first wife, Noreen Therrien, who preceded him in death. He was blessed in later life to share the love and companionship of his second wife, Julia Martin.