PORT TOWNSEND — In a town full of volunteers, Michael O’Hanlon stands out.
O’Hanlon, 68, who goes by the nickname of “Moh,” was honored Thursday night for 4,500 hours of volunteer service since 2000 at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center in Fort Worden State Park.
He was one of 25 volunteers at the marine science center who were honored for their dedication at a ceremony attended by about 80 people at Fort Worden State Park Commons.
O’Hanlon’s lifetime total hours of volunteer work surpassed those of any other, said Anne Murphy, marine science center executive director.
O’Hanlon puts in about 36 hours a week, maintaining the exhibits and answering questions from visitors.
“Moh has helped us tremendously through the years,” Murphy said.
“Kids come here because of him, and he helps the kids feel connected to the exhibits.”
After she spoke, as if on cue, an 8-year-old boy came up to O’Hanlon to ask him if he remembered “me from before.”
O’Hanlon nodded in assent and answered his questions about sea cucumbers.
The most common question O’Hanlon gets — after the location of the bathroom — is where the marine animals come from and what they eat.
O’Hanlon knows many of the questions because they have been asked before, but whatever he does not know, he will look up on the spot.
And the next time someone asks that question, O’Hanlon will have that information at his fingertips.
“Kids are really curious, They ask a lot of questions, they grab me by the arm and pull me over to see what they want to know about” O’Hanlon said.
“None of these kids have their face stuck in an iPod or a cell phone,” he said.
“Some kids may be slackers, but they don’t come in here,” he added.
Sometimes it seems that O’Hanlon learns as much from the children as he does from them.
Earlier this year, a child asked about a certain species he saw in a tank.
O’Hanlon knew that creature was not on display.
It turned out the kid was right, and the worm had crawled through the plumbing and taken root next to an anemone.
Such additions are relatively common, since the water in the exhibits connects to the sea below, although screening prevents larger animals from passing through.
In these cases, animals in their larvae form pass through the screening and take up residence in the tanks, then grow to full size.
O’Hanlon said it is important that both children and adults understand about oceans because they are part of life.
“I get great pleasure from doing this. We are making a difference here,” O’Hanlon said.
“I get approached by people all over town who tell me their kids have visited the Marine Science Center and they can’t stop talking about it.”
As part of the volunteer honor, O’Hanlon received medical airlift insurance for one year.
Aside from continuing his volunteer work, he has pledged to visit every aquarium on the West Coast “and only has three left.”
Large aquariums are exciting but O’Hanlon feels that real learning takes place in smaller centers like the marine science center “where visitors can actually touch the animals.”
“This is more personal,” he said.
“The animals are right in the room with you, and there is nothing between you and them.”
Located on the beach at Fort Worden State Park, the center offers two public exhibits.
The Marine Exhibit features large touch pools and aquaria and the Natural History Exhibit highlights the zone where land meets sea.
Both exhibits are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth and free to marine science center members.
For more information, call 360-385-5582, e-mail info@ptmsc.org or visit www.ptmsc.org.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.