Pat Ivey, President
Pat is a 41 year resident of Alaska and retired from the University of Alaska in 2012 after 37 ½ years, where she was cited by the Alaska State Legislature for her service to the university, community, and state. She is currently president of the Board of the North Star Council on Aging, a member of Aging at Home, a lifetime member of the UAF Alumni Association, and serves in various capacities in other non-profit boards and organizations, including the Salvation Army and the University Women’s Association which raises money for scholarships for UAF students. She is mother of three, grandmother of six and has five great grandchildren. She is an avid gardener and fisherman.
Her vision for the Senior Center: “To help the Senior Center continue to expand with the increasing senior population and provide the requisite level and quality of services, including Meals on Wheels, so that seniors stay safe, healthy and independent.”
Natalie Gaskins Vice President
Natalie has been a resident of Alaska for over 25 years. She has a BA in history from the University of Colorado and is currently employed by the State of Alaska, Department of Labor, Division of Employment Services – Putting Fairbanks to Work. Natalie’s passion is working with seniors in order to create a safe home environment and create events to help keep them actively participating in our community.
Her vision for the Senior Center: “To enable seniors to make an impact on issues of importance to them, voice concerns and to socialize with members of the community.“
Mary Abel, Secretary
In 1952, her family came to Fairbanks from Bath, Maine. She attended local elementary schools, graduated from Lathrop High School, and started college in Anchorage at Alaska Methodist University. After her first year, she transferred to UAF and graduated with a BA in Zoology. She then went to Tacoma, Washington, for training as a medical technologist. She worked as a medical technologist in clinics and hospitals in Fairbanks and on Fort Wainwright for the next 25 years. Mary and Glen have over 50 wonderful years together. They raised three wonderful daughters here in Fairbanks, and now have three grandsons. She was a Campfire leader for nine years, have been involved with the Lathrop Booster club, and helped Glen deliver Meals on Wheels for about 14 years.
Her vision for the Senior Center: “I have no plans to leave the Fairbanks area in the near future. Therefore, I will be here to followup on any ideas or plans that the Board might be working on. I would like to see our Center grow in membership with a new building, or an expansion of the current building, in its future.”
Ron Woolf, Treasurer
Ron has been a resident of Fairbanks for 33 years, is married and has three sons. He graduated from UAF and started in public accounting. He was the Finance Officer for Fairbanks Community Mental Health for 10 years, the CFO for the City of Fairbanks for 7 years and has been the CFO for GVEA since 2008. Ron has served on the Advisory Board to UAF’s accounting program and currently serves on the City’s Finance Committee. He and his wife are currently active in our community.
His vision for the Senior Center: Ron wants to “give back to our seniors due to his mom being in a nursing home in the lower 48 and cannot help her on a daily basis”.
Art DeLaune, Member
Art has been on the board since the last board meeting in 2018. He is a father of 5 children, and has lived in the Interior since 1984. He has been the Independent Living Services Manager at Access Alaska for the last decade, and holds a Master Certified Medicare Counselor endorsement. Art has been a member of the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, Borough’s Senior Citizen Advisory Commission, on the Thrive Alaska Board of Directors, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Tanana Valley Sportsman’s Association. He has special interest in outreach and education, and believes if more people understood the barriers that exist for seniors, and then a willingness to help solve aging issues would become a reality. His vision for the Senior Center: “To see the continued growth for seniors and to provide services for our
expanding senior population, and increased leadership in our local communities toward improved independence for seniors.”
Karen Wood, Member
Karen arrived in Fairbanks in 1997 as a UAF Exchange student . Her interest in the areas senior issues resulted in an MA in Gerontology, continued with a BSW and work in Human Services and Community Psychology. She was involved in the creation of many of the senior programs we have available today (too numerous to mention). Karen continues her commitment to the senior community through Nine One Ten with her son, Ramey.
Her vision for the Fairbanks Senior Center is expansion of space, programs and membership. The Meals on Wheels program is essential to the local seniors and should remain a priority for the center.
Lets Welcome our newest Board member, Kathryn Strle!!! Kathryn thank you for joining the team here at the Senior Center, we appreciate you.