The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

At 71 and battling Parkinson’s disease, Gottfried Georgi has no intention of giving up his full-time volunteering with Racine Unified’s high school automotive program in Wisconsin, where he formerly taught for 30 years. Instead of hitting the golf course or heading to Florida, Georgi still works on cars with the students and travels for auto competitions. Those close to him marvel at Georgi’s positive attitude and energy. At 71, with a disease known for slowly reducing the function of the body’s muscles and movements, Georgi spends time bent over cars in the auto shop, just rebuilt a bathroom floor and performs odd jobs for Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in Kenosha, where his wife is a pastor.

"I don’t have time to be bothered sitting and feeling bad for myself," Georgi said, adding that his teaching and other activities give him a purpose and reason to wake up every morning. Listening to Georgi talk about his students, it’s clear they are his biggest reasons. He even calls them his family.

"You can see the students come in starry-eyed not knowing a lot, and after a year or two in your program they are capable of diagnosing vehicles," Georgi said. "You can help somebody go from point A to point B in their life."

Georgi said he plans to keep offering his help "as long as I’m able," and others hope that’s a long time.

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