The Catskill Chronicle

Story provided, photos by Carol Montana

CALLICOON, NY (May 17, 2013) – The 40th Annual Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Recognition Day Luncheon was held on Monday, May 13 at the Villa Roma Resort & Conference Club House in Callicoon.

Deborah Allen, Director of the Office for the Aging, welcomed the 225+ crowd that gathered to honor the seniors. Caryn Mathews, Director, RSVP gave opening remarks, Pastor Bob Paquet, gave the invocation.

Marcia Heller, Attorney at Law, sang “God Bless America”. Scott Samuelson, Chairperson, Sullivan County Legislature, Cindy Kurpil-Gieger, Sullivan County Health Chairperson Health & Family Services spoke to the 40 year success of RSVP in Sullivan County.

A total of 283 RSVP volunteers performed over 55,000+ hours during 2012. The RSVP volunteers are making a difference in our community. Nine volunteers served over 1,000 volunteer hours during 2012 received a special award certificate Members of the “1,000 Hour Club.” The awards were presented by Elaine Finkle, RSVP Specialist to: Barbara Burns – 1,072, William Burns – 1,105, Patricia Curtis – 4,800, Margaret Ippolito – 1,016, Helen “Pat” Muniz – 1006, Sharon Rider – 1,072, Sonny Smith – 1,536, Barbara Viele – 1,071, Marcelle Wagner – 2,420.

Special Honor Awards were presented to: Mae Kratz (photo above with Caryn Matthews) – the longest active term volunteer since 1973; Marie Zalesky (photo right with Elaine Finkle and Caryn Matthews) for being the eldest RSVP Volunteer at 105 years young, serving at Grover Hermann Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center since 1975; and Marcelle Wagner (photo below) for most number of hours served: 41,000 hours since 1988.

Special Service awards were presented to 50 RSVP Medical Transporters: Leonard Bauer, Marcia Bauer, Richard W. Beach, Sylvia Ann Bogusz, Virginia Bossley, Bruce Buckman, RoseMarie Carr,Yoriko Cherry,Marjorie “Jean” Cocot. Edward Coney Donald Downs, Edith “Edie” Downs, Carmen “Letty” Figueroa, Barbara Fogarty, Robert Grab, Sr., Burton  Greenberg, Lorraine Greenberg, Richard “Dick” Harding, Anita Hartmann, Star Hesse, Agi Hyman, Norton Hyman, Mary Inghrim, Denise Jakaitis, Bernard “Bob” Kassman, Zinnia Konviser, Ralph Liff, Barbara MacGhee, Joann MacKinnon, Paul Mader ,Stanley “Stan” Martin,Yvonne Martin, Letha McCausland, Eva Molnar,Noreen Mudge, Arleen Nieke, George Nieke, James “Jim” O’Rourke, Gail Owen, Gloria Paquet, Robert “Bob” Paquet, Peter Rogers, Thomas “Tom” Rudzinskas, Vincent Santoro, Joseph Stifano, Helena Terpis, Peter Toscano, Hulda Vernooy, Arthur Viele, Barbara Viele.

Medical volunteers served 3,587 hours and travelled over 66, 000 miles providing; 1,690 trips to needed medical appointments to the elderly of Sullivan County.

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Michelle Semerano and Mike Sakell at WDNB Thunder 102.1/Bold Gold Media Group for announcing the RSVP volunteers birthdays each weekday on the radio, and their continued on-air support of the RSVP program. During 2012 there were 330 RSVP volunteers’ birthdays announced.

Each Legislative District chose a “RSVP Senior of the Year.” From these 9 nominations, one senior was chosen as the Sullivan County RSVP Senior of the Year. Sullivan County Legislature & Health Chairperson/Health & Family Services Cindy Kurpil-Gieger and Kathleen LaBuda, the District # 2 Legislator announced Sophia Martynec, Town of Lumberland /Legislative District # 2, as the Sullivan County “RSVP” Senior of the Year for 2012.

The Seniors of the Year from each legislative district are:

Bethel/District #1 – Claudia Chaiet

Lumberland/ District #2 – Sophia Martynec

Rockland/ District #3 – Stanley & Yvonne Martin

Thomas Seiderer – Mamakating/District # 4

Callicoon /District #5 – Norvin “Fred“ Fries

Liberty/ District #6 – Barbara Burns

Neversink/ District #7 – Marlene Stoutenburg

Fallsburg /District #8 – Norma Selman

Thompson/ District #9 – Sharon Rider

Special congratulations also for also being nominated go to: Grace Tewes – Town of Highland, Julianna Maxwell – Town of Delaware, Marylin Toomey – Town of Forestburgh, and Arthur Hessinger – Town of Freemont.

Sullivan County RSVP is sponsored by the Sullivan County Office for the Aging. Funded by the County of Sullivan, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the Corporation for National & Community Service.

If you are interested in joining, call Caryn Mathews, RSVP Project Director at 807-0251 for more information.

Below is an album of photos. To see more photos or to purchase prints from the 40th Annual RSVP Recognition Day Luncheon, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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