Column: Local Grads Make the World A Better Place Episode 3, Meet Erik Gardipee
Editor’s Note - This is the third in a multi-part series of columns looking at students who were educated within The Dalles School system and who have gone on to make major contributions to our community by bringing their skills and experience back home to make an impact for all of us. A huge thanks goes to Nancy Turner and Patty Rolen.
By Nancy Turner and Patty Rolen
The Dalles, OR Septmeber 14th, 2023—The Dalles is home to 16,043 (2021 census). Often people who grow up in small towns can’t wait to get the hell outta dodge. Talented, trained people often move away to find jobs in the city. The opposite appears to be happening in The Dalles. I’ve lately made it my mission (along with Patty Rolen) to meet with people who grew up here, graduated, left town, and later, came back. Instead of experiencing a brain drain, what we see here is a brain gain.
Patty and I recently interviewed Erik Gardipee. After graduating from Wahtonka High School in 2000, he went into the Navy. He was an aviation mechanic for 6.5 years and was deployed on airplane carriers all over the world. While in the Navy he earned a Bachelor's Degree of Science and Organizational Leadership. He trained to be a diver, (15 years) did ship repairs, and was involved in recovery missions in Vietnam and Argentina. He spent some time in the Middle East and Hawaii. In San Diego, he was involved in training and supporting Seal Team Operations. I don’t intend this to look like a job application, but more to give you the idea that Erik has put in his time learning new skills and working hard. He’s traveled the world and could easily find work anywhere. He appreciates the good education he received in The Dalles, and has come full circle, there are reasons he’s returned to his hometown.
His wife, Tiffany, also grew up in The Dalles and graduated from The Dalles High School. They returned to The Dalles to be with family. His grandparents came to Oregon to work on ships and later helped build dams. They settled down in The Dalles. Erik and Tiffany wanted their two boys to grow up knowing their relatives and to live in a nurturing community.
Erik prides himself on being a lifelong learner. He is currently working as an apprentice lineman for PUD. Even though he works 10-hour days, he still finds time to help out in the community. He serves on two youth boards, including Little League and The Gorge Wrestling Club. He also coaches baseball. And he’s looking for people to train to take over his volunteer positions as his own kids age out of these sports. If you are interested, get in touch with him. He says fear often stops people, but it shouldn’t. He will train anyone who wants to pitch in.
“If everyone in our community volunteered for just one thing, imagine what we could get done!” says Erik enthusiastically.
Erik says the best thing we can do with our lives is to take care of our kids. His advice: put phones down, and turn the TV off. Get the kids away from video games and outside enjoying the world. Amen.
