DATE: Thursday, May 29, 1997                TAG: 9705280174

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   75 lines

ANSWERING THE CALL PRESIDENT CLINTON WANTS FOLKS TO VOLUNTEER - THIS TRIO HAS BEEN ON THE JOB

HE SPENT 20 years in the Navy, and 15 years as pest control supervisor at Craney Island. Now, he's back in school - elementary school.

Bobby Dilbeck, 68, is Northern Shores' ``Pappy,'' a volunteer of all trades who lifts heavy boxes, helps clean the gym, works with the librarian, and sells soft drinks at ball games.

``I do anything they need,'' Pappy said. ``One day, I taught some boys how to fold the flag.''

He can teach many of us the art, and joy, of volunteerism.

``I'm the only grandpa that comes up here on a regular basis. If more grandparents or parents spent just one or two hours a week, it would be fantastic,'' said Pappy, who averages two to four hours a week at school. ``They say they don't have the time. Yes, they have time.''

Sometimes, he just shows up and hangs around until someone asks him to do something.

Pappy has been a volunteer four years, first at Florence Bowser. When his two granddaughters moved to Northern Shores when it opened in September, he moved with them.

``I like seeing my granddaddy run around the school,'' said 10-year-old Lauren, a fourth grader. ``I like that he helps.''

The principal likes it, too.

``Pappy has been our surrogate grandfather,'' said Pam Kiriakos. ``The children and staff have grown to respect and care for him. He is, truly, a part of our Northern Shores family.''

He knows the family well.

Recently, an office worker was trying to locate a teacher, not quite sure where she was.

Pappy knew.

Where did that nickname come from?

He has family in Pennsylvania.

In that state, he said, ``all grandfathers are called Pappy. My son-in-law calls me that. It carried over.''

He was born in Morrisonville, Ill. His wife, the former Anna L. Hutchinson, is a registered nurse at Maryview Hospital in Portsmouth.

The other grandchildren are Megan, a 7-year-old second grader, and one-year-old Caitlyn, a future Northern Shores student.

``I eat lunch with Lauren and Megan whenever possible,'' said Pappy, a perfect example of a proud grandparent.

He is tall, robust, husky, and in good health physically and emotionally.

Handling Northern Shores chores is no chore.

``I live near the school - Town Point Road,'' Pappy said, referring to one of the streets in the swiftly growing northern section of Suffolk. ``When I moved there it was called Pig Point Road. I was hoping they'd have changed the name to Hog Holler Lane.

``I've been there since '64,'' Pappy recollected. ``There were only 15 to 20 houses at the time.''

Most of the children were transported to Bowser, switching closer to home when Northern Shores opened its doors.

``They like me up here,'' said Pappy, who recently joined Lauren's class as a one-word spelling bee participant.

``I don't remember the word,'' he said, ``but I spelled it correctly.''

Some children have trouble spelling and/or reading. Helping them, one-on-one, is one of Pappy's favorite things.

``I read to them,'' he said, ``and I help 'em learn to count.''

What really counts is what Pappy does - spending his time at his granddaughter's school, cheerfully doing whatever is asked of him.

``I do anything they need,'' he said, ``and I feel good doing it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER

Volunteer Bobby ``Pappy,'' Dilbeck reads a book with Northern Shores

Elementary student Briana Lawson, 7, in the school library.

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