Our featured volunteer this month is Richard Dodson, a retired middle school teacher from Mt. Diable USD of 32 years. He retired in 2020, just as Covid hit. He has lived in Oakland for 35 years and has enjoyed for decades the diversity he finds here, especially at Lake Merritt.
On Tuesday mornings when the A Team gathers to clean the Lake Richard routinely rides up on his bike. Turns out he is on his bike a lot and uses it like a car. He first found out about the Clean-Ups by noticing the A Team in bright green shirts, cleaning around the Lake on Tuesday mornings, and went to the website to get involved.
About himself he says, “I have always been a glass half full kind of person. Instead of complaining about the condition of the Lake, I decided to do something about it.”
Since retiring, besides his commitment to the A Team, he has taken up piano lessons, singing in the Rockridge Chorale Choir and golf x2 weekly, not to mention line dancing to the Texas Hold’em! Growing up there was always music in his home.
He and his wife have a family of 2 sons and 3 grandchildren, all in the area. Lucky man!
Thanks for all you do Richard, maybe you can write a song to the Lake!!
He’s an amazing man! We are so proud of everything that all the volunteers do to support our beautiful lake.