The Morgan Hill Times’ Heart and Hand Award recognizes those who
make our community truly special through their caring
contributions.
The Morgan Hill Times’ Heart and Hand Award recognizes those who make our community truly special through their caring contributions. These unsung heroes go above and beyond and demonstrate through their actions that the human spirit flourishes in a giving environment. If you know of such a
person in our community please contact Mary Ann McCarthy at hi*********@gi************.com
Do you have a fulltime career and what is that?
I am a senior engineer with Hitachi Global Storage Technologies in San Jose. My college degree is from Carnegie Mellon – B.S. in physics. I completed some master’s work at the University of New York at Syracuse. Beginning in 1961, I worked for IBM and prior to that, the National Bureau of Standards.
When did you first start volunteering?
I started volunteering in high school. I went to elementary schools and helped with science projects. In college, I judged science fairs. I loved Mad magazines. I had a high school biology teacher, Phoebe Kipling, who was my mentor for volunteer work. Her husband, Ed, was responsible for pointing out DDT dangers on the environment.
Do you have any hobbies?
My wife would tell you I don’t do much else besides the volunteering.
What do you like most about volunteering?
You put in a little and you get a lot out of it. A small group can reach out to so many. You look around Morgan Hill and everyone is volunteering.
What makes you a successful volunteer?
I have a tendency to stay with it.
What was your best day volunteering?
In the scouts it’s very rewarding to see a scout that started out not reaching their goal and then end up making Eagle Rank.
What was your worst day?
In any volunteer situation interpersonal conflict is when it ceases to be fun.
What are some of the organizations where you volunteer your time?
I’ve been a volunteer with Boy Scouts of America local Troop 730 since 1979. The troop started with five boys from San Martin. I was their Scoutmaster for 3 years. The troop now has over fifty scouts. I’ve been their Committee Chair ever since. I’ve been involved with the Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair Association, President elect. The fair is held at the San Jose Convention Center with 800 students from Palo Alto to Gilroy participating. There is $20,000 in rewards. Synopsys Outreach is our prime sponsor. I’m also a board member of the Jackson Oaks Homeowner’s Association and on the executive board of the Grange Association. With the Taste of Morgan Hill I head the trash committee as well as serve as an election inspector during government elections.
South County thanks Lynn Liebschutz for all his volunteer efforts in support of his community and congratulations on winning South Valley Newspapers Volunteer of the Month for January, 2006.
