April 9, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 9, 2017 – Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley is saddened to confirm the death of Peace Corps volunteer Cody Oser of Broomfield, Colorado. Cody, 24, passed away in the Comarca Ngäbe Bugle region of Panama on April 8, 2017.

“Cody’s enthusiasm for helping others and knack for problem solving were remarkable and are a few of the many reasons he was so well-liked among fellow volunteers and in his community,” Acting Director Crowley said. “His impressive engineering skills made him stand out as a volunteer because he dedicated himself to working with communities around the world to find solutions to their technological needs. His passing is a profound loss for the Peace Corps community as we mourn along with his family and friends.”

Cody was a bright aspiring civil engineer and was excited to use his skills to find unconventional ways to bring technology to communities around the world. Before starting his Peace Corps service, Cody spent time in Kenya and El Salvador, working on engineering projects to help communities build potable water structures and solar-powered irrigation systems. When he applied to Peace Corps, Cody expressed a desire to help communities navigate their engineering challenges and planned to do so with an open mind. “I know that for most rural communities, the challenges of obtaining proper materials, tools and financing are common but that there is never a shortage of clever solutions when you collaborate with the people in your host community,” he said in his aspiration statement. Peace Corps staff were impressed early on that Cody’s passion for engineering was equal only to his enthusiasm for service and helping others. Cody was very enthusiastic about his future projects with the community of Cerro Gavilan focused on latrine construction and formation and legalization of the water committee.

Cody graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and received minors in Business Administration and International Development in 2015. Cody relished in using his talents to help others and served as an Engineering Intern for SunCulture Solar Agriculture in Kenya and as a Project Leader for Engineers Without Borders in El Salvador and Pine Ridge, South Dakota before leaving for service. He was excited about learning languages and had studied Spanish, French and Swahili. In his free time, he loved exploring new topics, talking politics, learning instruments, reading, drawing, running, martial arts, hiking, camping and traveling.

He is survived by his parents, Lynnette and Steven Oser, his brother and sister-in-law Gabriel and Joanna Oser and his sister and brother-in-law Abbe and Jamie Gilroy.

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