enlarge Jack Milton/Staff Photographer

Alfred ‘Fred’ Padula, a retired history professor, paid for the 52 solar panels on the roof of the Abromson Community Education Center at the University of Southern Maine.

enlarge Jack Milton/Staff Photographer

Alfred ‘Fred’ Padula stands in front of a mural explaining the Abromson Center’s energy and environmental efficiencies at the University of Southern Maine.

I BELIEVE

EDITOR'S NOTE: For some people, passion and commitment to an ideal is more than something for the holiday season. For them, faith in that ideal is a touchstone for their lives. Last of five parts.

to speak up. But he repeatedly cautioned against exaggerating his impact.

"I'd be very loath to say we're saving the planet from 69 Clifton St. We ain't," he said. "We're just sort of getting started in this, and there's so much to be done."

Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at:

jrichardson@pressherald.com