For the last five years, Gene DeBolt has played a critical role in every Habitat for Humanity home built in Sonoma County. He doesn’t swing a hammer or wield a wrench; Gene uses his engineering, surveying and political expertise to breathe life into residential dreams before the blueprints are even drawn.

Gene built a successful civil engineering firm in Danville, served as its president for 25 years and sold it in 2000. Since then he’s been, essentially, semi-retired. But Gene doesn’t consider himself retired in any way.

“So now I am able to do work for Habitat on a pro bono basis and assist in processing some of the same type of developments…. I’m able to utilize a lot of the expertise I built up in my years with De Bolt Engineering to aid Habitat in their sites,” he says.

To make Habitat homes affordable, the nonprofit needs help in the acquisition of the property. That comes through individual donations, land given by cities or towns and private developers who work jointly with Habitat. Gene’s responsibility is to get the site approved through the appropriate city staff, planning commission and city council, in order to get it approved. He works with architects to create a parcel map and is the interface between architects and engineers. Much of this work can be done from his home office.

Gene is also very active with his church, First Church of Christ, Scientist in Santa Rosa, where he typically volunteers about 20 hours a week.

“I don’t believe in retirement -- I think that’s a state of mind. Even semi-retirement infers relaxation … I think we should all be involved,” he says.

Copied from Press Democrat
Habitat for Humanity Advertising Insert, March 1, 2008