By Nancy Bowman
Patrick Reese’s interest in serving on the Tipp City Foundation board was inspired by his work on the Tipp City Public Library Board of Trustees.
A resident of Bethel Township, Reese came to the area 11 years ago when assigned by the Air Force to Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
He and his wife of 32 years, Chrystal, grew up in the area of Shippensburg, Pa., a south-central Pennsylvania town he described as about the same size as Tipp City.
Following graduation from Shippensburg University, he attended graduate school at Penn State University before starting a 22-year Air Force career. He retired at Wright Patt in 2013 and headed to work at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dayton as the campus energy engineer.
While on the library board, Reese said he has seen the impact the foundation has “promoting positive initiatives” in the local community.
“My interest in working on the (foundation) board is to find those opportunities where someone has a great idea that could use the support the foundation can provide,” he said.
His Air Force service provided a good background for foundation service, Reese said.
“A lot of my experience in working with organizations like the foundation was gained through my career in the Air Force. A typical Air Force base is much like a small community. There were numerous times where we had to determine where to direct funds that were intended to enhance that community environment. It was much like the proposal evaluation process which the foundation operates,” he said.
Reese joined the foundation board in 2022.
Patrick and Chrystal Reese have two children. Elsbeth graduated from Bethel High School in 2012 and is studying to be a funeral director in Milwaukee, while son Nathaniel graduated from Bethel in 2014 and is a graphic designer and artist in Pittsburgh.
Chrystal has operated a small business selling maple syrup, jams, jellies, and other home crafted products at local farmers markets. The farmers markets have been put on hold while Patrick undergoes treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. They plan to resume the business when he has recovered.
He and Chrystal are beekeepers and participate in the Miami Valley Beekeepers Association and the Greene County Beekeepers Association. They also make maple syrup and belong to the Ohio Maple Producers Association.
He continues to serve on the library board, noting the staff has done “amazing things” to keep library services going in the community even in the times of COVID-19.
He attends the Tipp City United Methodist Church and is a member of the Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir and fills in at times as a lay leader during services.