President honors Camarillo woman for donating 9,000 hours to community work
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

WELL DONE-Camarillo Health Care District volunteer Patricia Spandrio holds a bouquet of flowers while Jane Rozanski, the health care district's chief executive officer, holds Spandrio's awards, one of them a certificate of commendation from President George W. Bush, for giving over 9,000 hours in service to others.

Just across the desk from where Patricia Spandrio sits is a glass display case with items of honor few people will ever get. Inside are two pins, one of 18- karat gold, and a framed letter from President George W. Bush, thanking Spandrio for devoting years of her life in volunteer service to others.

Spandrio has given more than 9,000 volunteer hours and was awarded the President's Call to Service Award-the highest volunteer honor-at a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program luncheon last month.

She didn't know RSVP had nominated for the award until her name was called.

"When he said '9,000 hours,' I almost fainted," Spandrio said. "I didn't realize in the 15 years, I had put that much in."

The lifetime honor goes to volunteers who've donated a minimum of 4,000 hours, or roughly two years of work- through a volunteer agency. By that measurement, Spandrio has spent four and a half years of her life helping others without receiving any financial benefit.

Spandrio has volunteered through RSVP for 16 years, spending almost a year at the Camarillo Health Care District.

The great-grandmother of four has faithfully shown up for 15 years to a job without pay because the real payoff isn't measured with a calculator. "I love working here," Spandrio said. "I love talking to the people and I love being busy."

Despite some physical limitations, Spandrio had worked for many years at the health care district Monday through Friday from opening to closing. Recently though, health problems have forced her to cut back the number of days to three.

"But I'm always available for anything that comes up," Spandrio said without hesitation. She got involved in volunteer work after her husband of 46 years, Angelo, died and one of her sons moved her to Camarillo to be closer to him.

He's since moved away; the nearest of her three adult sons lives in Moorpark.

"This is my second home," Spandrio said of the health care district.

When her doctor tells her to stop working and stay at home, the spirited 83yearold questions his sanity.

"I'm not going to s i t home," she said. "I'm a person that can't sit still--have to be doing something."

Spandrio wants to spend at least five more years at the office that houses the district's therapeutic nail care clinic, candy fundraiser and caregiver resource library.

Health care district spokeswoman Kara Partridge said Spandrio keeps operations running smoothly.

"We're hoping you can stay 25" years, Partridge said.

When a couple walks in to schedule a nail care appointment, Spandrio springs into action. Attentive and friendly, she doesn't have to look in the schedule to know there are no openings for several weeks.

Once an appointment is set and they leave, Spandrio reflects for a moment.

"I'd come here and work even if I was in a wheelchair," she said. "This just has really kept me alive all these years- I live for it."