A Gem of a Volunteer

Pete Modreski is a man who definitely knows a lot about rocks! Having earned his PhD in geochemistry at Penn State, he had a long career as a geochemist and Public Outreach and Education Director for the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver. During his 41-year career, which is remarkable enough, he also eagerly shared his love for and knowledge of geology with the youth (and adults) in our community.

For over 20 years Pete has been an enthusiastic volunteer with Community Resources, Inc. (CRI). He has done classroom presentations on Rocks and Minerals, and Dinosaurs of Colorado. He has served as a lead judge for numerous DPS science fairs coordinated by CRI. Serving as a mentor for DPS students interested in geology, he could often be found hiking the foothills of Colorado with his eager student in tow, pointing out interesting formations and fossils. As a member of CRI’s Board of Directors for 10+ years, Pete brought his “hands-on volunteer” perspective to the meetings, while thoroughly enjoying the meeting’s snacks (inside joke 😊). 

If asked, his favorite way to volunteer was to help with CRI’s Family Math Nights. There Pete could be seen calling out math problems for the families playing Multiplication Bingo or teaching a quick game of Dice for Dollars. When he volunteered, Pete was often joined by his wife, Jane Dianich, who sadly passed away in July 2020.   

In addition to volunteering for CRI, Pete shares his passion for rocks and minerals through the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Dinosaur Ridge, the Colorado Scientific Society, Friends of the Colorado School of Mines Museum, and other organizations.

CRI and the Denver community have truly been blessed by Pete’s commitment to the education of our youth. And, the good news is that, since he recently retired, we are confident that he will have more time to share his expertise with the students of Denver Public Schools. Rock on, Pete!