Albee a force behind the scenes

According to those who know him well, Post Falls resident John Albee works behind the scenes and does all he can to make life better for others.

“What makes John different,” says Pearl Bouchard, director of Area Agency on Aging, “is that he works behind the scenes, never takes credit for his significant contributions, and if he sees someone suffering in the community, he makes life better for them.”

Albee was born in Twin Falls, and his parents were lifelong Idaho residents, farming in southeastern and western Idaho. He graduated from Emmett High School and attended the University of Idaho, receiving a bachelor’s degree in dairy science in 1962.

After graduation, Albee began work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers Home Administration, as the Assistant Supervisor of Canyon County. He was the county supervisor for Nez Perce and Clearwater counties from 1965 until 1973.

He then was named the county supervisor of the Coeur d’Alene office, and in the same year named director of the North Idaho District, serving 10 North Idaho counties and supervising seven county offices.

Albee supervised community loans and grants for water and sewer systems, recreation, rental housing and other community projects funding that was vital for improving housing and infrastructure in rural communities.

Many Farmers Home Administration rental housing projects were specifically developed as a partnership with local nonprofit community-based senior organizations for senior citizen apartments.

In 1994 Albee retired but remained very concerned about senior housing issues, and he has been a strong advocate for senior citizens through his work and volunteer activities.

Albee has been a state commissioner for the Idaho Commission on Aging, representing North Idaho and working closely with the Area Agency on Aging, since he was appointed to the commission by then-Gov. Dirk Kempthorne in 1999. His term has been renewed two times with his current term expiring July 2008.

The Area Agency on Aging serves Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties and is part of the nationwide network on aging created through the Older Americans Act. The agency’s focus is to keep people 60 years of age or older independent and contributing members of their communities.

Albee is a past board member and chairman of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council; and a board member and chairman of Adult Generation Enterprises, a nonprofit organization chartered to raise funds to further the mission of the Area Agency on Aging.

“John emulates the qualities of a much sought-after board member,” says Bouchard. “The additional bonus is that when he leaves, the word is spread or an act of kindness follows.”

Albee also sits on the St. Vincent de Paul’s Housing Board.

“John has been a major player in not only how Transitional Housing functions, but also how St. Vincent de Paul and St. Luke’s run as well,” says Matt Hutchinson, St. Vincent de Paul Transitional Housing program manager.

Transitional Housing specifically works with homeless families, single men and women. St. Vincent’s has more than 30 units of transitional housing in Kootenai County, and their program is designed to help clients become self-sufficient.

Once a month, Albee interviews clients before they move in to better understand where they have been and where they want to go. According to Hutchinson, these interviews are intensive and take quite a bit of emotional strength.

“For the past five years John has been the backbone of these interviews,” says Hutchinson. “He also coordinates the needs of the residents when they move out and graciously helps someone in a crisis.”

Albee’s efforts do not stop there. Hutchinson says Albee has rototilled St. Vincent de Paul’s gardens, helped with paint, picked up donations, fixed playground equipment, and facilitated a youth volunteer day.

An active member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Albee sits on the facilities and outreach committees, coordinates the usher schedule, and is involved in many other church activities says Judi Burks, church administrative assistant. “John is one of those nameless angels – he just gets things done. I do not know what we would do without him.”