Retiree Baysa Honored For Volunteering

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For his devotion to the Wahiawa community and numerous volunteer efforts, Dr. Norberto Baysa was named Outstanding Male Senior at the 42nd annual Mayor’s Senior Recognition Program April 11.

“It was unexpected. I want to thank my seniors for nominating me,“said the 75-year-old Wahiawa resident and Waialua High graduate.

He was nominated by the Wahiawa Rainbow Seniors Club, of which he currently serves as president. The city program honored 80 people over age 60 who have volunteered their time, talent and experience to schools, organizations and programs in the island community.

Baysa volunteers at Wahiawa Medical Arts Clinic (which he co-founded) in the afternoons three or four days a week.He’s also on Wahiawa General Hospital’s board of directors and has been a volunteer internist with Aloha Medical Mission, which has taken him to other countries, from the Philippines to the Dominican Republic.

“I do some volunteer work at Aloha Medical Mission in Kalihi,” Baysa said. “I go there to spend a few hours. I don’t do as much going to the Philippines (anymore). I need to be with my wife. But I still go to the Dominican Republic as a family doctor and a mentor for two medical students.”

Baysa joined the Wahiawa Rainbows after he retired 10 years ago, and two years ago he volunteered to run for president because, as he recalled,“they didn’t have anybody.

“We meet every Monday,” he added. “It’s fun. And we have all these volunteer opportunities. The Pineapple Festival, we participate in that. Our group will march. Some of us will narrate for trolley rides on the weekend. (They also have a) booth about the history of Wahiawa. We also help with clean up on ‘Wahiawa Care For Your Community Day.‘We’re all dressed in red and clean up California Avenue one day a year.”

Even though he calls himself “an old fart,” he plays tennis with the American Medical Tennis Association and the World Medical Tennis Association when he’s not working.“I play tennis quite a bit. We play internationally as a team and as individuals in different age groups. This year we’re going to go to Croatia. That keeps me busy. My mixed doubles partner is coming from Canada. My men’s doubles partner comes from Sweden.”

Baysa and his wife, Rose, have lived in Wahiawa since 1963, when he was discharged from the U.S. Air Force. That year he began his practice at the Wahiawa Medical Arts Clinic with two other doctors - Richard Tesoro and Manuel Abundo. At its peak, the clinic had eight doctors, but Baysa said it’s hard to find physicians who want to work at a country facility.

Baysa also served in the Air Force Reserve at both Hickam and Wheeler AFB. He studied pre-med at UH-Manoa and later earned his M.D. at Creighton University.