Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 26, 1990                   TAG: 9004270396
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-4   EDITION: SOUTH 
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TRAVEL, VOLUNTEER WORK KEEP RETIREE BUSY

At first, he said, he missed the routine, but soon other activities filled his time.

He and his wife, Louise, recently returned from an Elderhostel at Savannah State College in Savannah, Ga. They were impressed with the beauty and neatness of the all-black school, where women outnumber men 7 to 1.

The week of study included learning about the city of Savannah, English short stories and computers.

"When they told us to write a short story, we thought it was impossible, but we did it," Louise Pick said.

"We also had an overview of computers," Leonard Pick added. "Not enough to really understand, but enough to get interested."

Pick said that the Elderhostel program is an excellent way for older people tp see the country, meet other people with similar interests, learn and have a good time - without spending a lot spending a lot of money.

Another highlight of the past 10 years was a trip to Europe, where they toured England, Scotland and Wales with another couple for about three weeks.

However, one should not assume that Pick spends all his time having fun these days. He continues to give much of his time to others.

"I still work occasionally at RAM," he said. "When the volunteers, who man the phones need to be away, I fill in. I also work occasionally at TRUST."

Pick was the executive director of TRUST, the Roanoke Valley Trouble Center, for a number of years.

On Tuesdays, Pick tutors foreign students at Patrick Henry High School in English as a second language.

"Most of them are Vietnamese," he said. "I have six to eight students assigned to me, and work during an hour-long session. Now I have an assistant, so it's easier. It's gratifying to help them with little things they need to know about the language."

Pick came to Roanoke in 1959 as manager of the Roanoke branch of Singer Business Machines. When Singer went out of business in 1973, he took early retirement.

For a couple of years, he tried working for two other companies, but after being in charge it was difficult to work for someone else, he said.

In 1976, he became the first paid director of RAM, and continued in that position until 1985 when he retired a second time.

Pick, who will be 75 in July, lives at 5130 Hackney Lane in Southwest Roanoke County. He and his wife have two sons and one grandchild, with another on the way.