OLLI Member Spotlight - Peter Finzel and Alison Toney

Peter Finzel and Alison Toney, co-recipients of the 2026 OLLI Volunteer of the Year Award.

photos provided by Peter Finzel and Alison Toney

There are plenty of responsibilities and duties necessary to keep OLLI functioning as a well-oiled machine. Whether it is managing finances, curriculum, events, or travel opportunities, volunteers take care of these tasks and more. Many volunteers assume officer positions to take on an even greater share.

There are times when our volunteers are unable to perform those duties. This past academic year, the OLLI Board of Directors Vice President of Finance and Administration and Treasurer were away for a significant period of time, and yet those duties still had to be completed.

Peter and Alison both typify great OLLI teamwork spirit, ensuring that the job got done. They stepped up when it mattered and we are all appreciative of their efforts.

OLLI members Peter Finzel and Alison Toney did not hesitate and took on those roles to ensure the OLLI train kept rolling along. Peter joined the OLLI Board in 2024. After a career managing computer and software projects for the US Army Missile Command, he also earned a doctorate in management. Since joining OLLI, Peter has served as a facilitator and has also taught the ever-popular Writing Your Life Story course. He happily took on the role of treasurer and successfully managed OLLI’s funds for a few months.

Alison joined the OLLI Board in 2025 and has considered herself a professional student. Her undergraduate degree is in Biology, and she then completed two years of dental school, six years of graduate school, and four years of postdoctoral fellowships. Nowadays, she tells her grandchildren that she goes to “Grannie School” where she continues her love of lifelong learning. Alison is a smiling advocate of OLLI and serves on several committees and as class facilitator. She took on the role of head of Finance and Administration, which helped keep OLLI’s finances and policies in great shape.

Their work above and beyond the call of duty was why Peter and Alison were chosen as co-volunteers of the year at the OLLI Annual Meeting and Dinner on May 19, 2026. Thanks to both Alison and Peter for doing what they did and continue to do for OLLI!