July 21, 2005

Mary Dullea and her golden retriever, Tess, are close companions at home and around town. (Photos by Lorraine Gabbert)

Volunteer of the Month: Mary Dullea
                
To volunteer for a community service organization for almost 20 years would be a great accomplishment for anyone, and is especially notable for Mary Dullea, who is mentally handicapped.

For her unwavering dedication and completion of about 5,000 hours of volunteer service, Dullea was recently honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross at a recognition dinner at the Hyatt Sainte Claire.

“The award made me feel terrific,” says Dullea, who is proud to be a part of the organization. “I like working for the Red Cross because of the help they offer people.

I don’t like to see anybody suffer.”

Volunteering with the American Red Cross also provides Dullea with a sense of accomplishment, and judging from the numerous certificates and plaques she’s received, her efforts are appreciated in return.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Dullea reports for work downtown at the First Street office of the Red Cross, where she performs a variety of duties, including bagging face masks and preparing mailings for its Health & Safety Department. A conscientious worker, she was presented with the Chapter’s Busy Bee award during National Volunteer Week in April for always looking ahead. Not one to sit idle, on the rare occasions that her own department’s work is completed, Dullea is sure to check with other departments to see if she can be of assistance.

“She’s thoughtful and sweet,” says her sister, Susie Clarke, “and she takes her job seriously.”

Raised with her sister and brother in Almaden, Dullea attended Simonds Elementary School, Castillero Middle School and Gunderson High School. Although she was born hydrocephalic (a congenital condition in which an abnormal accumulation of fluid causes enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain), due to an implanted shunt, which drains excess fluid from her brain into her stomach, as well as her personal drive and devotion, she leads a productive life. “She functions well in familiar places,” says her mother, Margie Dullea, “and has a fanatical memory for things, dates, and times.”

Mary Dullea displays the Volunteer of the Year plaque she received at the American Red Cross Recognition Dinner. (Photos courtesy of the Dullea family)

Dullea, who will be 41 in August, has a special bond with animals—especially horses and dogs. Since the age of 4, she has ridden horses at Calero Ranch Stables and has a special arrangement with the owner to enter the corral to feed them apples and carrots. “The horses go wild when they see her,” says Margie. “She is a big animal lover and enjoys the closeness with the horses immensely.”

She also likes dogs, as they have been a part of the Dullea family all her life. However, it is a golden retriever named Contessa (Tess), purchased just three months ago from Golden Retriever Rescue, who has stolen her heart. Although skittish around most people, Tess simply adores Dullea, following her everywhere and sleeping on a blanket beside her bed. “She’s very affectionate to me,” says Dullea with a smile. “It’s a very good thing for Mary,” adds her mother, Margie.

Dullea plans to work for the American Red Cross for years to come and is glad to be a part of an organization that provides disaster relief. “Hearing about disasters, I hope people get through them OK. That’s my main concern,” she says. “Disasters are no kind of fun. It’s nice to be able to help people.”

Every evening, Dullea recites prayers for those in need. For her, working at the American Red Cross is more than just a volunteer job—it’s a chance to make a difference in people’s lives.

—By Lorraine Gabbert