GCC Foundation honors three distinguished alumni

By P.J. GLISSON

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Ironwood - The David G. Lindquist Center at Gogebic Community College in Ironwood was milling with people Thursday evening as the GCC Foundation held its 23rd annual recognition banquet.

The event began with a reception in the first-floor student lounge, followed by dinner and a program in the second-floor conference center.

Honored were Judge Joel Massie, Class of 1974; Rob Pairolero, O.D., Class of 1997, and Outstanding Staff Member Don Pelkola.

"Back to where I started," said Massie as he entered the event with a big grin. He said he appreciated the "close" and friendly atmosphere that GCC provided as he studied for his Associate of Arts. He also lauded the school's "high quality" of education from "great" instructors.

After getting his bachelor's degree at Western Michigan University and his law degree from Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Massie and his wife, Janice, returned to this region in 1981, where he served as city attorney to Bessemer and township attorney for Wakefield and Marenisco townships.

Massie eventually became Gogebic County Probate Judge and District Judge.

"We returned here because of family," said Massie, who will retire at the end of this year. "It's a good place to raise kids. I'm happy we came back here." The Massies have three adult children, Jessica, Jordan and Justin.

Dr. Rob Pairolero also basked in being back "where my roots are." He, too, praised his GCC instructors as having taken "a real interest in making sure they provided a quality education." He said he also appreciated the opportunity to play basketball for the Samsons. while experiencing the adventure of being on his own for the first time.

Pairolero grew up in Watersmeet and already was dual-enrolled at GCC while he was in Watersmeet High School. After getting his Associate of Applied Science, he then earned a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, followed by a Doctor of Optometry Degree from Michigan College of Optometry.

After starting in a partnership position at Eyecare Associates of Haslett, Pairolero eventually became the sole owner of the facility, which has locations in Haslett, Mich., and elsewhere.

Pairolero and his wife, Rachel, live in East Lansing with their daughters, Kyria and Eliya, and son, Tobiyah.

As the Outstanding Staff Member honoree, Pelkola received his Associate Degree from GCC in 1970 and then earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from Northern Michigan University in 1972.

After employment in Detroit, the Ironwood native returned to GCC in 1975 and never left. Although he held the same job throughout his employment, his title morphed to Director of Accounting and Payroll.

Pelkola told the Globe he stuck with GCC for 43 and one-half years because he admires the college and enjoyed "the diversity" of his job, which allowed him to dabble in his love of numbers.

He said he stayed "especially" because of the people at GCC, whom he said are "wonderful." He added he's grateful to the foundation for honoring him and his fellow honorees. "It's such a good organization," he said, commending the "many good things" it accomplishes. Pelkola said he will continue to work with the foundation in his retirement.

The GCC Foundation's board of directors chooses each year's honorees. According to foundation president Charlene Newhouse, the foundation also works to improve the college's buildings by, for instance, helping to furnish gathering areas in the dorms and providing study carrels above the automotive area.

Newhouse said the foundation's primary work is in providing scholarships to GCC students. "The emphasis is on the students and their success," she said.