By Bill O’Gurek

Times News Staff

For nearly a quarter century, Marlene Basiago says, the Panther Valley community was good to her as she operated the successful former Helping Hand Clinic in Summit Hill.

In retirement, she wants to give back through volunteerism.

“Volunteerism is a duty,” said Basiago, who delivered occupational and physical therapies to thousands of clients at her Summit Hill business before retiring in 2014 at the age of 59.

“I want to give back to my community, because the community was so good to me. Volunteering is one way I can do it,” she said.

The Summit Hill resident, who graduated in 1973 from Panther Valley High School, returned to her roots after her education, because, she said, “I felt there was a need for the therapies.”

Basiago earned an associate degree in occupational therapy from Lehigh Carbon Community College and bachelor’s degrees in occupational and physical therapy from Temple University and Thomas Jefferson University, both in Philadelphia, before returning to her beloved hilltop community.

Operating the clinic from 1990, she said, “I dedicated my life to helping people, to help them improve their health and get back into their daily lives.”

Earning a reputation as a tough but effective therapist, she said, “I may have been hard on people, but my goal was always to get them better.”

Known as a benevolent businesswoman, Basiago was a staunch supporter of community endeavors, including the Summit Hill Girls’ Softball Association, which she founded; Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball programs, church and school events, and, most especially, the Panther Valley Public Library, Lansford.

At PVHS, she volunteered as a trainer for athletic teams before the athletic trainer programs came to fruition.

During her working career, she volunteered at and donated to the library, because, she said, “It was of big interest to me to get a library going in this community.”

Upon retiring, a friend convinced her to become even more active in the library and she eventually became president of its board, a post she still holds today after numerous years. “The community needed a library,” she said, “I’ve never known of a library in this area and felt the community needed a place to go to read, work on a computer, look for jobs. … It’s a huge asset to the community.”

“Marlene is directly responsible for the success of the library as she plays an integral role in its day-to-day operations,” said Siobhan O’Gurek, treasurer of the library’s board of directors. “She is very committed to making it successful. She and the other volunteers who we have at the library continue to provide a great service to the people of the Panther Valley communities.”

Recruited by a friend to help the Carbon County Area Agency on Aging, Basiago jumped in with both feet. She explained, “With my business, I had some experience with insurances and so I agreed to take some courses to become a counselor of Medicare for the agency.”

For the past eight years, she has been helping senior citizens during the open enrollment period of Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, helping them to find drug plans and Medicare advantage plans that best suit their needs.

Throughout the year, she helps seniors enroll in Medicare, and assists them with supplemental plans and drug plans.

According to Donna Shelly, PA MEDI counselor with the county’s Area Agency on Aging, Basiago’s services there are invaluable. “ (Marlene) is my left arm, and I’m left-handed,” Shelly said. “There are no words to explain Marlene because without her I couldn’t do open enrollment and get reports filed as necessary.”

In the past period, Shelly said, she and Basiago met with 336 seniors in eight weeks for open enrollment purposes.

“I really enjoy it a great deal,” Basiago said. “I’ve always enjoyed working with older people. If there’s a way I can help people with Medicare, which can be confusing, or perhaps get them a cheaper drug or Medicare advantage plan, I get great satisfaction out of that.”

She meets seniors in Palmerton, the library or even in her home, providing Medicare advantage assistance, and, during open enrollment, through the aging office, she has hours in Lehighton, Nesquehoning, Lansford and Summit Hill.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting a lot of people who needed Medicare assistance, and they are very grateful for the county and what I can do for them,” Basiago said.

“The people are very appreciative … they’re glad to see us to get help if available. A lot of the people are on low incomes and it’s important for us to see if we can get them extra help,” she said.

The program, she says, is “Extremely important because we give people the time they need to understand the programs, and we explain the details to them. For some, we are able to resolve problems they have … I get a great degree of satisfaction in helping them.”

Basiago is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of the Panther Valley, Summit Hill, where her volunteerism has no limits.

A member of the church’s financial council, she is often seen volunteering at church fundraisers, funeral dinners, breakfasts and block parties. Behind the scenes, she does cemetery cleanup work and cuts grass on church property.

The Rev. Bob George, pastor, called Basiago a “volunteer powerhouse,” saying, “She is always willing to help out with any project the parish is having. She works bingo, the summer festival, lottery tickets after Mass, funeral dinners and even cuts grass around the church.

“She is truly dedicated to the parish community and always in a very humble way. Most times, you don’t even know she is around, yet she is working and accomplishing a lot. The parish community of St. Joseph is truly thankful for all that she does.”

“I like to be busy and don’t want to just sit around,” she said. “If I can help somebody in any way, I would do it.”