Spevak: Giving thanks for a joyful supporter of the Los Banos community

Despite the many discouragements in our lives today, we have much for which to be thankful. This Thanksgiving I want to express my gratitude especially for people who bring joy into our lives and, in particular, for one extraordinarily joyful person — Pam Gomes.

Pam has worked at the Los Banos Campus of Merced College since 1998 as an instructional support technician, helping dozens of students and staff work with technology. She doesn’t just help them. She makes them smile, too.

Pam has served under five Los Banos Campus deans.

“She has always shown patience,” said Anne Newins, who was dean of the campus from 1994 to 2005, when it was located in portable buildings on Mercy Springs Road. “She was especially good about putting up with less-than-up-to-date technology on our Mercey Springs site, and did a lot of work to keep things functioning.”

“What made her help so appreciated,” Newins added, “was Pam’s empathy and sense of humor. She could share with others her own down-to-earth frustrations with computers or networks that weren’t working and laugh with them about the craziness of technology and of life itself.”

When the campus moved in 2007 into new buildings at its current location on West Highway 152, Pam worked tirelessly to solve technological challenges.

“As anyone can imagine,” said Karyn Dower, who was dean then, “there were technical needs throughout the entire campus, and our Pammy was there, ready to help, with a smile on her face and the skill and ability to get us up and running.”

Brenda Latham, who served as the LBC dean from 2008 to 2019, said, “Pam kept hundreds of computers going at the campus. It was a big job. Pam was our main support for the phone system and all the Zoom meeting technology. Really, she might be called upon to help troubleshoot anything with electrons flowing through it.”

Lonita Cordova, who was LBC dean from 2019 until early this year, said she owed the transition from in-person to remote learning to Pam at the Los Banos Campus when COVID hit.

“Pammy and I handed out laptops to faculty and classified professionals at the campus,” Cordova said. “Thanks to her, our campus was able to be nimble in a time where there was uncertainty and fear of what the pandemic would bring.”

Like other deans Cordova appreciates Pam’s sense of fun.

“Another memory I have,” Cordova said, “is Pammy dancing on Friday mornings during our staff meeting. She is always there for others with such a kind heart.”

Current dean Jessica Moran also appreciates Pam’s positive attitude.

“The sunflowers she displays in her office reflect her bright and sunny disposition,” Moran said. “She is considered by all as a ‘can-do’ person who always finds a way to help all students and staff who need her help.”

“Pam is also a great team player,” Moran added, “always displaying a collaborative approach and a happy face at the campus’s staff meetings.”

I knew Pam when she worked as a technology expert during the 1990s at the Los Banos Enterprise. As a columnist I would often walk into the Enterprise building on I Street and notice her going from person to person, helping them with whatever technology problems they had — always with a laugh and smile.

When I was an adjunct instructor at the Los Banos Campus between 2008 and 2015, I could always count on Pam’s help. I worked in a computer lab which helped students improve their reading skills. So often the computers or the software either broke down or, more likely, stumped me.

Pam’s desk was right down the hall, and I’d make that short walk, entering her office with greetings like, “Help!” or “What the heck’s going on?” Pam would always respond first by calming me down, then by making me laugh and then by solving my problem. In my mind, she worked miracles.

Earlier this year fate played a cruel trick on Pam. In March she was diagnosed with stage-four small-cell carcinoma which had already spread to her spine, liver and brain. Since then, she had to endure frequent treatments, often painful, but she hasn’t lost her positive attitude and her smile.

Her children — Aaron, Yauna, and Shea — rallied around their mom, giving back to her the love she always showed them.

Recently she was honored by Helping One Woman Los Banos, which sponsored a dinner at M&M’s restaurant to celebrate all her accomplishments.

I am just one of hundreds of people in Los Banos whose lives have been touched by Pam Gomes with kindness, love and joy.

I join with many others who have celebrated her accomplishments in saying thank you to Pam. We have all been so blessed to have her in our lives.

John Spevak is a columnist for The Los Banos Enterprise. His email is john.spevak@gmail.com.