Thanos Trezos, Ph.D. ’86, MBA ’01

Years in Peace Corps: 2017-19
Country: Panama
Region/City: Coclé/Perecabe

When Thanos Trezos, Ph.D. ’86, MBA ’01, heard about the Peace Corps as a graduate student at Purdue University, he fell in love with the idea. Thirty-five years later, Trezos and his wife, Kaly, left their home in San Gabriel, Calif., to serve two years in Panama as water sanitation and health volunteers. Coclé, southwest of Panama City, is an agricultural area, bordered by mountains, beaches and the crater of an extinct volcano.

“I was fortunate to serve with my wife, so loneliness wasn’t a problem. We were in our 60s and unlike the younger volunteers, it was at times challenging for us to refer to our hosts as “mom” and “dad,” says Trezos, “But, the Peace Corps was a lifelong dream for me that finally came true.”

Throughout their service, the couple served as independent volunteers, although they worked on several projects together. For example, they would travel together to lobby government offices, share daily chores and divide up work cooking and creating maps on Google Earth. What they enjoyed the most about Panama was that not everything has monetary value. “They are more relaxed about time, money and everything really,” says Trezos. “They value relationships more than anything.”

During their service, the couple discovered a nonprofit organization, Sustainable Harvest International, that helps farmers improve their agricultural methods. “Our accomplishment was to bring this organization to the community, and now, we stay in touch with our community through this organization.”

Trezos believes their time was well spent, and that everyone should consider serving. Says Trezos, “You end up dealing with the unknown or the unexpected, learn to accept others just the way they are and find who you really are.”

The couple enjoyed spending time with other volunteers and knowing the tank that the community wanted, and which they lobbied for, was built by the Panamanian government. Now retired, Thanos Trezos enjoys gardening, spending time with his wife and taking on home improvement projects. He continues to take Spanish classes and is involved with the Hellenic Library of Southern California.