By Beth Ritter-Guth

The American Red Cross is powered by extraordinary volunteers, many of whom begin their journeys as recipients of the organization’s services. Marianne Konior of DuBois, Pennsylvania, is a shining example of this full-circle commitment.

Marianne’s connection to the Red Cross began decades ago. Her husband, a career combat veteran with the U.S. Air Force, was deployed in Thailand during the Vietnam War when their fifth child was born. The Red Cross helped deliver the news that they had welcomed their first daughter after four sons.

After the Koniors returned home to Pennsylvania, Marianne’s life remained full. She earned her Ph.D. and launched a dedicated career as a school principal. Even while balancing the responsibilities of a school administrator and being a mother of six, she never wavered in her commitment to service.

Over the years, Marianne has volunteered in nearly every capacity. Now 87 years young, she remains an active force as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) responder, helping people after local emergencies such as home fires. In addition to disaster response, she has volunteered at blood drives, taught babysitting and CPR courses and helped kids prepare for emergencies through the Prepare with Pedro and Pillowcase programs. She enjoys giving presentations and connecting with the public at community events. "I've pretty much done everything except dispatching," she said. 

Having served for nearly four decades, Marianne has seen the organization evolve. She notes that technology “has really made things a lot easier.” She recalls the late 1980s when volunteers handled grassroots fundraising, such as selling hoagies, to keep operations running, and when they had to complete four copies of every form. “There have been a lot of changes,” she said, “but things are so much easier now.”

Marianne has also responded to large-scale disasters across the country. Her most recent in-person deployment took her to Texas to support those affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. While she has stepped back from long-distance deployments, she continues to play a vital role, responding to local disasters, supporting emergency shelters and providing specialized care as a caseworker and disaster mental health volunteer.

“Marianne’s importance to our mission cannot be understated,” said Zach Bloom, community disaster program manager covering Northwestern Pennsylvania. “She embodies the Red Cross and uses her gift for helping people so often that it’s hard to fully appreciate the overall impact she’s made on people’s lives. She is an inspiration to many volunteers and to me as well.”

Marianne’s passion for service extends beyond the American Red Cross. She is an avid reader and serves her community as a bereavement counselor at Penn Highlands Hospice and as a leader in faith formation at her local church. 

In September, Marianne will reach 39 years of Red Cross service. Her legacy is a testament to her simple yet profound motivation: “I love the Red Cross.”