Old teachers never quit. And they never fade away.

        A lot of them keep on teaching after they retire. The 1,500 members of the Hamilton County Retired Teachers' Association are a good example.

        Most are still busy substitute teaching, teaching Sunday school classes, tutoring, chairing committees and even following legislative issues in Columbus.

        Joy Ilg, 77, who retired after 41 years, still does tutoring and teaching at C.O. Harrison Elementary School.

        “I came up with the idea of an in-school suspension program just before I retired,” she said. “The principal was able to get the program approved by the board and assigned me to run it.”

        She said students who are suspended are allowed to continue coming to school and get into her program, instead of staying home during the suspension.

        “I tutor them on classroom work. The most important part of the sessions is that since we are one-on-one, they tell me everything. I learn that is the best way to help them, when they are able to tell you their problems,” Mrs. Ilg said.

        That is just part of what she did last year to rack up 1,500 hours of voluntary service.

        She lives in Delhi Township and is a member of the Shiloh United Methodist Church, where she teaches Sunday School every week, helps keep the choir organized, takes care of the church library and serves as president of the Women Society.

        “People tell me I do too much; but whenever someone ask me to do something, I just do it,” Mrs. Ilg said.

        For Martha Burkhart, 76, much of the 1,440 hours of volunteer work she did last year involved trips to Columbus to fight for better pensions for retired teachers.

        “My work is to help our association and help the retired teachers,” said the Sharonville woman.

        Louis and Kay Koenig, both 78, of Covedale, said they like keeping busy. Mrs. Koenig leaves the house at 5 a.m. three days a week to do volunteer work at Mercy Franciscan Hospital.

        Since retiring after 30 years of teaching, she has done volunteer work with a church group in Bosnia, an orphanage in Moscow and on a church mission in Bolivia. She makes quilts for Children's Hospital, and hats and mittens for the Head Start program at the Margaret B. Rost School in Bridgetown.

        Much of Mr. Koenig's time has been spent testifying before the Ohio General Assembly.

        “I have testified three or four times on legislation regarding retired teachers' benefits,” he said. “We didn't list the number of hours we had in volunteer work last year. It was a lot.”

        Jane Pittman, who does publicity for the association, was a teacher and supervisor for 30 years. After she retired, she taught three years at the College of Mount St. Joseph.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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