THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610180197
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: CLOSE-UP
SOURCE: Jennifer C. O'Donnell
LENGTH: 108 lines
Robert J. Weaver couldn't have picked a busier time to begin his new career as executive director of the Portsmouth/West Chesapeake chapter of the American Red Cross. Weaver stepped into his new shoes last July just as Hurricane Bertha was threatening the area.
``It gets you into what's going on real quick,'' Weaver said.
Weaver, retired Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Portsmouth, hoped for another career after leaving the military in June. But Weaver wasn't willing to accept just any position, and he and his wife Barbara wanted to remain in Chesapeake.
``My position here isn't that big of a jump from what I was used to,'' he said. ``I still get to go home at night and feel good. This is definitely a feel-good kind of business.''
As executive director of the Red Cross, Weaver is responsible for heading a staff of eight full-time employees and some 200 volunteers.
The Portsmouth/West Chesapeake branch of the Red Cross covers the Portsmouth, Western Branch and Deep Creek regions. The nonprofit group provides aid and humanitarian services to those in need, including victims of fire and natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In addition, the Red Cross provides armed forces emergency aid, continuous planning for disaster preparedness and health and safety courses.
One service Weaver is especially proud of is the Retired Volunteer Senior Program.
``We match interested seniors with any number of groups that need volunteers,'' Weaver said. ``It's a way to keep seniors active and help the community at the same time. As far as I know, we're the only branch that has this program.''
The retired volunteer senior program currently has more than 453 workers enrolled.
Weaver's crossover from the military to the Red Cross seemed a natural step to the retired captain. In 1989, Weaver was stationed in San Francisco when the infamous World Series earthquake hit. As a deputy base commander, Weaver had to see to it that his base, which as he put it was little more than a landfill after the quake, be up and operating just 12 hours after the shimmying started.
``We experienced rapid liquefaction, which meant the sand and everything pretty much just folded up and collapsed,'' he said.
Weaver's experience in handling such disasters proved beneficial when he started his job at the Red Cross. Within weeks the Hampton Roads area had to face two serious hurricane threats. After that, the region has to prepare for the coming winter months.
``We see more fires around the holidays, and last year the cold weather was so bad we had to open shelters,'' Weaver said.
In addition to seasonal challenges, the Portsmouth chapter has to deal with, on average, one family fire a week and numerous military emergency situations.
Weaver isn't just interested in seeing that the community is prepared for hurricanes or other disasters. With a region as diverse as Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Weaver wants to make sure the Red Cross is providing the region with the services it needs.
``Portsmouth is very urban, and Western Branch and Deep Creek are spread out,'' he said. ``What Portsmouth residents might need from us might be different than what Chesapeake needs. We need to find out if we're doing everything we should be doing.''
Name: Robert Weaver.
Nickname: Bob.
Neighborhood: Riverbend.
Number of years in Portsmouth: Three.
Birthplace: Elmira, N.Y.
Birthdate: June 22, 1946.
Occupation: Executive director, Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapter, American Red Cross.
What job other than your own would you like? None.
Marital status: Married to Barbara for 27 years.
Children/grandchildren: Children - Paul, 26; Michael, 23, and Christine, 20. Grandchild, Abigail, 11 months.
Fondest childhood memory: Driving our 16-foot aluminum boat while my father fished.
First concert: Jay and the Americans, 1966, State University of New York Maritime College.
What song or book title best describes your life? ``Only in America'' by Jay and the Americans.
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you would buy? Whatever my wife told me to.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I wouldn't want to trade places with anyone. It would mean losing a day with those most important to me.
Biggest accomplishment: I always wanted to be a Coast Guard officer and command a major unit. I achieved that in Portsmouth as a captain, commanding the Coast Guard Base in Churchland.
Most embarrassing moment: There have been many. Fortunately, I have forgotten them. I expect to have to forget more.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would spend more time enjoying today and less time thinking about tomorrow.
Perfect way to spend the day: A little tennis, a little reading and a night out with my wife.
I can't resist: M&M Peanuts.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Amory's.
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: Commodore Theatre.
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Continued revitalization.
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
Continued economic growth that means jobs for our current residents.
Continued economic growth that will attract new residents.
Continued economic growth that creates jobs for the children of Portsmouth.
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? The balance between the historical city and the modern growing city. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL by CNB