North Shore NewsAs a nonprofit, the Chamber operates mostly with volunteer help. Volunteers staff the Visitor and Business Services Center from 10 to 5 Monday through Friday, the Board of Directors are all volunteers, and there are many others that volunteer in many capacities that help carry out the broad mission of the Main Street and Chamber programs. One volunteer that we recently and unexpectedly lost was Trish Coder.
Trish started with the Chamber in 2005 helping with office work, photography and graphic arts. She loved people and as a result took amazing photos of them. Her husband of 47 years, Bob, and she were a team. He carried all her camera equipment while she took the photos. As a result, there are very few photos of Trish.
Trish became the official volunteer photographer, showing up year after year to take “Photos with Santa”
before and after the Christmas parade, the Annual Christmas Party, Sunset on the Beach, ‘Business After
Hours,’ quarterly membership meetings, and historical Illustrated Talks. She was the Chamber’s Volunteer of
the Year in 2012. Marianne Abrigo remembers Trish as, “a good friend, incredible photographer and sooo
much fun to be around.”
She and Bob moved to Oahu in 2003 due to his job in the Army and she continued her long career in nonprofit work with the Goodwill Industries in Haleiwa. Over the years, she also worked with Camp Erdman, volunteered with the Waialua Community Association, the Army aviation family, Once a Month Church, Operation Toy Box and Operation Backpack.
She and Bob helped start and took lead roles in the ‘Once a Month Church’ that met in Haleiwa Beach Park, raised funds, and gave out food, groceries and other goods. As Trish worked with the homeless population, she realized that most families didn’t have any family photos. So, she started making albums for some of the families, providing them a way to remember their special memories.
For her husband Bob’s Army aviator family, Trish was inducted into the Honorable Order of Our Lady of Loreto, an award that recognizes years of service to and caring for Officers, NCO’s and soldiers of the
Army aviation community.
Trish’s life of service unexpectedly ended due to an illness coming upon her suddenly. Trish left a true mark of compassion and selfless service on our world. Her life is an example for all of us. Donations may be made to U.S. Vets at Barbers Point in memory of Trish.