Feb 05, 2004

Volunteer of the Week: Karl Moranz

As a cook, a veteran of two wars, and a father of three, volunteer Karl Moranz definitely knows the value of a pair of helping hands. And that’s exactly what he’s been doing for the past two years—lending a helping hand at the Almaden Senior Center.

According to Senior Center Director and Gerontology Specialist Torie O’Reilly, Moranz is one of those individuals who is always there to lend a hand, no matter what the job. “Karl just doesn’t say no, so we have to be careful we don’t take advantage of that. He’s able to do tons of work.”

Although a native of Austria, Moranz spent 10 years in China before coming to the United States in 1952. The following year, Moranz was drafted by the Army, where he utilized his linguistic talents interrogating prisoners and as an interpreter. Fluent in German, French, English and Cantonese, Moranz was a valuable asset to this country’s war effort.

After his discharge in 1956, Moranz went to work for IBM, and married his wife, Judith in 1960. In 1961, Moranz was called back to active duty, again because of his language versatility. “I worked with many high-ranking officials,” explains Moranz. “One time, they needed someone to help out with the KP duties and no one else wanted to volunteer, so I did it. Everyone thought I was a [professional] cook and they later offered me that post, but I said ‘No.’” A natural in the kitchen, Moranz credits his Eastern European heritage and helping with meal preparation as a child with his innate skills. “My mother was a very good cook,” recalls Moranz. “In fact, we all knew how to cook well.”

Little did he realize that this talent would one day become a useful asset in his volunteer activities.
After his tour of duty, Moranz returned to the states and to IBM. He and Judith relocated from the East Coast to the Almaden area in 1970 where they raised three children. Moranz remained with IBM until his retirement in 1992, when he decided to become involved in volunteer work. “”I always have to be busy,” says Moranz. “I made a vow when I retired that I would never watch TV during the day and that I would never get a beer belly. I’d rather starve to death!”

According to Moranz, he first became involved with the Southside Senior Center and volunteered at that location for about seven years. His move to the Almaden location came as a result of convenience more than anything. “When they put in more traffic lights, it took a long time to get to Southside. Then I saw a brochure for the ceramics class at Almaden, and I decided to go there because it took less time to get there,” explains Moranz.
When he arrived that first day for ceramics, he realized that the time listed was incorrect, and he had about an hour to wait until the class started. “I looked around and saw an exercise class and decided to try it,” Moranz recalls. “And I’ve been here ever since.”

At the Almaden Senior Center, Moranz helps out each Wednesday with the setup of the exercise class, and assists in the ceramics class and helps with the kiln.

“He’s one of those people that when I get here at 7:30, he’s already here, ready to go,” says O’Reilly. “I know he worked at IBM for years, but I bet he’s busier now that he’s retired. He’s very active and has made a lot of friends here.”

On Thursdays, Moranz and a host of other community volunteers meet at the Southside Community Church to cook meals for InnVision, a San Jose-based organization offering assistance to displaced persons. And it is in this endeavor that Moranz’s expertise in cooking tasty meals for a large group really comes in handy. “I do the main cooking, making sure it’s a casserole-type dish, but it’s not just me, many people come to help out. We make dinners for the homeless that are put in special containers and taken to InnVision where volunteers help to serve the dinners. We provide food to hundreds of people, and the credit goes to everyone.”

—By Candy Richter