GCHS Alumni: Where Are They Now? Thomas Montalbine

“Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us.” - Sargent Shriver, Peace Corps director, 1961-1966

Tom Montalbine, GCHS ‘77, admitted he wasn’t the greatest student in Garden City High School. He cut classes and did whatever minimal work required. So what did he do in the Peace Corps? Ironically, he became a teacher.

“Garden City High School was a great school although I probably did not appreciate it at the time … I then graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 1982 (B.S. accounting),” said Montalbine.

Immediately after graduation, Montalbine headed to the Peace Corps and was placed in Fiji, a warm island nation in the South Pacific, east of Australia.

“While in Fiji, I taught high school age children accounting, English and math. So there I am in Fiji with a bunch of kids that really wanted to learn and improve themselves...” Montalbine stated, unlike himself at a similar age.

The Peace Corps mantra, “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love” proved true.

“I was sent over to Fiji with a group of about 50 other volunteers. Two and one half years later we were down to less than ten. For some people they could not get used to living so far away from home, for others they had various medical issues or other personal situations arose..." Montalbine continued.

"I guess I was lucky to have a good assignment in a beautiful country with an extraordinary culture. [It was the] greatest experience of my life and I learned much more from the Fijians than I could ever give back … I think the best part about the Peace Corps experience is that you learn more about yourself. Your job is to help other people and to teach them about American values but you end up taking more from them than you can ever repay…You learn about different cultures, you learn about how the world perceives the United States and you come back from the experience a completely changed person.”

Montalbine stayed for three years. When he returned home in 1985, he worked at SUNY Old Westbury while studying for a masters in international finance from Long Island University/C.W. Post. From there he worked for CARE, the international development agency, for several years. Currently, Montalbine is president of Roman Stone Construction Company in Bay Shore, which makes precast concrete and cast iron products.

An added benefit, he remarked, is that employers like to hire Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) because it makes the volunteer stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs.

For more information on the Peace Corps, visit www.PeaceCorps.gov.