November 2001

Sat Krouch

O'Connor McBride, Glenda Weston, and Kenny Barbour

Worker Finds a Real Community at the Physical Plant

By Michelle Nery

It has been a year since Sat Krouch of the Physical Plant was diagnosed with liver cancer. And in this long, sometimes arduous year, human spirit has prevailed and the Physical Plant has pulled together to take care of one of their own.

A George Mason employee for 11 years, Krouch was working hard to become certified as a locksmith senior when doctors discovered two tumors on his liver - one the size of a fist and the other the size of a golf ball. Only 34 years old, Krouch was referred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for a new treatment. But as his pain increased, Krouch found it more difficult to make the long drive from his home in Arlington to Johns Hopkins for his monthly treatments. This is when his friend and co-worker O'Connor McBride stepped in to help out.

"He's my partner here at work. He'd do anything for me," says McBride. "So I helped him out." "I told him I'd drive him. Some people donate their time at soup kitchens. I don't have any special projects - Sat is my project."

For the past year, McBride has been leaving his home in Sterling at 4 a.m. to pick up Krouch and get him to Johns Hopkins in time for 8 a.m. appointments. "It was a drag to get up at four in the morning," admits McBride. "But once we got rolling, telling jokes and stuff, the time went by fast." The treatments require Krouch to stay at the hospital for one full day so McBride would then make the return trip after work that same day to pick him up.

"They are very close," says Paul Kashmer, assistant director of administration and personnel in Facilities. According to Kashmer, McBride, who is a locksmith senior, took Sat under his wing while he completed the locksmith certification course. "Sat caught on quickly," says Kashmer. "It takes a certain kind of person to complete the locksmith course, and Sat did a very good job. He became certified right before he got sick." "He could put anything together," says McBride of his friend. "You could break apart a lock and jumble it up, and Sat could put it back together."

"When Sat got sick, he didn't have much sick time," says McBride. "People around the university found out about Sat's condition and donated their time."

Several George Mason employees participated in the leave sharing program, which allows employees to donate annual leave to another employee who may need additional leave as a result of an illness or accident. Mary Lee Vance, director of Academic Support and Advising Services, worked with other members of the Asian Pacific American community to request classified personnel assistance in this endeavor. "A true hero and friend is O'Connor, he has been outstanding in his support of Sat," says Vance.

Physical Plant employees Kenny Barbour and Glenda Weston and Human Resources Generalist Jennie Pegram and Employee Benefits Specialist Jane Carter worked to ensure that the donated time was properly allocated to Krouch. "We got the largest outpouring of donations for Sat than any others I have ever seen," says Pegram.

"Sat is a great guy," says Kathy Bohnstedt, Electronic Classroom and AV manager. "And my staff and I were more than happy to help him out." Human Resources Benefits Manager Julie Kaye visited Krouch at his home to review his benefit options. "My thanks to O'Connor for being my chauffeur," says Kaye. "If I ever become ill, I hope that I have a friend as loyal as O'Connor. Nothing is too difficult to do for his friend Sat."

Although both tumors have been destroyed, Krouch's condition has not improved and he has had to go on disability. But he has been told there "will always be a spot open here for him at George Mason," says McBride.

Krouch, who emigrated to the United States in 1980 as a Cambodian refugee, spent a week in early October vacationing with McBride in Florida, a place Krouch has always wanted to visit. "He just wanted to feel the Atlantic Ocean - step in it and walk in it," says McBride. "We had a blast."