A New Chapter for Our Driver George

One of our two Senior IMPACT Project Drivers, George Hunter, will be retiring at the end of September after 13 years at Society for the Blind. We are thrilled for him, but it is a big loss for us because George was loved by every staff member and client he met – keep reading and you will see why.

George served 20 years in the military and was a commercial truck driver before coming to Society for the Blind – he was the model employee for efficiency. Yet at Society, he said he developed even more important skills – listening and patience. 

“This job will make you a better listener,” George said. “I used to not have any patience, but this job has taught me you have to have patience. You have to be a person that cares for other people. If you don’t have it, this is not the job for you.”

At age 72, one of George’s favorite parts about his job driving our 12-passenger van is meeting new people and discovering how much he has in common with them. From former truck drivers to people who enjoy restoring old cars, passengers quickly become his friends.

“One of my passengers, when we’re together, we can cut it up a lot – politics, old songs, sports, just life in general,” George said. “His team is the Golden State Warriors and mine is the Sacramento Kings, and we can talk junk to one another. You get to meet a lot of different types of people, and you can feel how much they appreciate you.”

Drivers at Society for the Blind do more than transport – they also assist instructors on home visits. George said he has learned a lot from the instructors on how to teach a variety of skills, including cane travel, which he said many clients are reluctant to learn.

“They’re embarrassed because they don’t want anyone to know they’re losing their sight,” George said. “You have to learn to listen to people really close and watch their actions. You have to know how to counsel them on how the cane will help them in their lives. Ninety percent of the time, I can talk them into accepting the cane.”

Priscilla Yeung, our manager of senior programs, said of George, “Whenever he works with clients, he always wants them to become as independent as possible. If he knows they can travel independently, he will often say, ‘Swing that cane! Swing that thang!’”

George said he has the most fun at his job when he gets to pack the van with a group of clients on an outing, such as to Apple Hill.

“You can see how joyful they are to get out of their homes, and you will find some of the friendliest people on that ride,” he said. “You can see this agency means a heck of a lot to them. It will hit your heart and let you know that you did something right that day. You helped someone.”

George has been proud to watch Society for the Blind grow over the past 13 years as more and more people discover the organization.

“The first few years I was here, I found that a lot of clients had never heard of Society for the Blind,” he said. “But word got out, and it makes you aware that there are a lot of people who need these services.”

While George says he will miss making new friends with clients and staff at Society for the Blind, he also feels great about retiring.

“This is the best job I ever had,” George said. “You’re not going to meet a better group of clients or staff. Even on a rainy Monday morning, I don’t grumble about coming to work. But I have a million things at home I keep saying I’m going to get to. I’ve got to get on it before I get too old.”

First up: a complete restoration of his 1972 Volkswagen Beetle. He also is looking forward to more small game hunting. He has three grown sons and four grandchildren and will be watching his 9-month-old grandson two days a week. While his wife is concerned about how George will feel in retirement, he is not.

“She keeps telling me that I may become grumpy about not being out of the house, but I’ve got lots of things to keep me busy,” he said. “I can go to the gym earlier or sleep in now. It’s that time of life for me, I don’t have to rush.”

George said he will miss the perspective this job gives him each day.

“This job makes you very aware of other people’s situations and your own life,” he said. “It will make you aware of how blessed you are to have life and that you need to help other people. It’s not a money thing. We as humans need to realize that we need to help one another more. This job gives you the chance to help someone else and respect others. It would be a better world if we all could do that more.”