August 2015
Corbett Pool, L140306, enjoyed building things. As a volunteer with FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity®, the retired Marine Corps colonel helped construct more than 30 houses around the country, and he served as team leader on most of those projects. But just as important was his gift for building relationships.
“He never met a stranger,” said his wife, Connie, who served as FMCA national president from 2007 to 2009. “He was always interested in people. Especially at FMCA. Anybody with a first-timer ribbon, he would talk to them, find out all he could, and help them.”
Corbett Glenn Pool Sr. died June 5, 2015. The Corpus Christi, Texas, resident was 77.
Corbett earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas A&I University-Kingsville, and a master’s degree in personnel management from Central Michigan University. In 1960 he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He met Connie, who was also a Marine, on one of the hills overlooking Pearl Harbor. They ran up those hills to stay in shape while both were stationed at Hawaii’s Camp H.M. Smith. They were married for 35 years and had five children, one of whom is deceased. Corbett, a Vietnam veteran, retired in 1990 after 30 years in the Marines; Connie was a lieutenant colonel when she retired in 1993.
As Marines, the Pools typically were stationed on the East Coast, West Coast, or overseas. They bought a motorhome when Corbett retired so they could see the parts of the country they had been flying over for so many years. Soon after, they joined FMCA.
Corbett believed in the association. “If he saw people in a coach that didn’t have a goose egg (membership emblem), he’d walk up and talk to them about joining FMCA and all the reasons why,” Connie said. “He thought everybody in a motorhome should be a member.”
The couple’s infectious enthusiasm soon led to their appointment to the FMCA Youth Committee, on which they served from 1993 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2004. They were members of the Convention Committee from 2001 to 2004. They also became active members of a number of chapters: Foretravel International; Lone Star; Past National Officers; Roamin’ Catholics International; and Rally in the Pasture.
The Pools devoted much of their time and energy to FMCA Chapter: Habitat for Humanity®, which they helped start. Corbett, who grew up near the oil fields of South Texas, learned how to use tools from his father. Corbett, in turn, taught Connie. The couple often signed on for builds that the Habitat chapter scheduled near FMCA Family Reunions and rallies.
“(Corbett) was good at it. It was fun to be on a build with him. But you worked hard. It wasn’t a free pass,” said Dave Davies, a friend who worked on several FMCA Habitat chapter projects with the Pools.
“Corbett was a Marine, and always was a Marine,” said Fred O’Donnell, who became a close friend through Habitat projects. “His attitude was, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. He wasn’t one to cut corners.”
Once, Connie recalled, Corbett pointed out that a team member had not framed a window correctly. The team member felt it was good enough and noted they were “not building a piano.” Corbett informed him that they were indeed constructing to such standards, and that he should remove the frame and “do it right,” Connie said. She noted that Corbett always expected the best from everyone, and wanted to make sure they had fun doing it.
Corbett almost always wore a smile, and could easily make people laugh. “Every evening,” Fred said, “we had what he and I referred to from time to time as ‘attitude adjustment hour.’” Volunteers gathered for a potluck dinner, enjoyed themselves, and were ready to work the next day.
Doug Key also got to know Corbett through FMCA’s Habitat chapter. “When we would build with college students on spring breaks, he would take them under his wing and make sure they were safe and comfortable with what they were doing,” Doug said. “The college students would usually go their own way in the evenings, but Corbett would always organize at least one evening meal with them and get them to mix with the Habitat members. That was a fun part of the week.”
Corbett convinced many FMCA members that they would have fun if they joined the Habitat chapter. And the fun didn’t always involve building homes. One year as a Family Reunion approached, the youth program faced a shortage of volunteers. “He picked up the phone and started calling all our Habitat buddies,” Connie said. Not only did those chapter members fill the volunteer roles, they enjoyed themselves immensely.
Corbett did, too, no matter the task. When Connie served on the FMCA Executive Board and the couple came to Cincinnati for meetings, he often took charge of the kitchen at FMCA’s Round Bottom Road facility, where evening meals were planned and prepared.
“He enjoyed being involved with people,” Connie said. “He didn’t care what level it was. He had a blast doing it.”
In addition to Connie, survivors include three daughters and a son; a brother; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Donations in memory of Corbett can be made to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545; www.maryknollsociety.org.