Valuable tools donated to CTC in mechanic's memory

September 10, 2015

From left, Rodney Guffey, son of Marianne Guffey; Tony Simko, diesel and heavy equipment program coordinator; and Marianne Guffey pose in front of the tool box donated by the Guffey family to the Community and Technical College in memory of Marianne's late husband, Steve Guffey. UAF photo by Karalee Watts.

The family of Steve Guffey has donated his tools and toolbox, valued at more than $15,000, to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Community and Technical College’s diesel and heavy equipment program.

Steve became a heavy duty mechanic, working on fire trucks for the Fairbanks North Star Borough, after retiring from the Air Force. This change of pace was his post-retirement "fun" job, said Marianne Guffey, Steve's widow.

“Working on anything with wheels was always fun for Steve," she said.

Steve passed away from kidney cancer on Aug. 11, 2010.

Marianne, assistant vice president and human resources manager at Mt. McKinley Bank, discussed what to do with the tools with her children — Erica, Seth, Dianna and Rodney. Rodney, the youngest, is a senior at Monroe High School and the only child remaining in Alaska.

“We are downsizing homes this month and no longer will have room for the very large, neon-green tool boxes or the tools housed in them,” she said.

They decided to donate the tools to CTC’s diesel and heavy equipment program because the facilities are located at Hutchison Career Center, where Steve took courses to gain his Automotive Service Excellence certification.

The late Steve Guffey, center, with his son Rodney and wife Marianne. Photo courtesy of Marianne Guffey.

“We hope that students can utilize the tools as they develop their skills for a career in heavy-duty mechanics,” Marianne said.

The fit and timing for this donation could not have been better, according to Tony Simko, CTC's diesel and heavy equipment program coordinator.

“Personally having a background in fire apparatus maintenance, and recently partnering our program with the University Fire Department to perform supervised scheduled maintenance and repair of their fire trucks and apparatus, I realized this was a perfect fit," Simko said. "The Guffeys' generous donation also helps our program during these tight financial times, as we are always in need of replacing worn or broken tools. The university's Community and Technical College and the diesel/ heavy equipment program are humbled and honored to accept the donation. The tools and professional box are in a good home and will serve the students very well many years to come.”

For more information about the diesel and heavy equipment program, visit http://www.ctc.uaf.edu/programs/Diesel/index.html.