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 White Plains, NY - A retired radiation oncologist, a former folk dance teacher and a long-time community volunteer from Mount Vernon will be among the 43 seniors who will be honored at the 26th annual Senior Citizen Hall of Fame luncheon on Dec. 5.
The gala will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.
Dr. Arnold M. Wald of North Castle, who was a radiation oncologist for 40 years and is co-founder and president of the Cancer Support Team, will receive top honors at this year’s event.
The Cancer Support Team is the only Westchester based home-care program licensed by the New York State Department of Health that provides supportive services free of charge and without regard to insurance coverage. Dr. Wald is also a former volunteer pilot for Angel Flight of New England, a non-profit organization that flies critically ill children and adults in private aircraft at no charge to hospitals for life-saving medical care.
The luncheon is co-sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) and the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.
The Hall of Fame was established by DSPS in 1982 to honor seniors who have contributed their energies and talents as professionals and volunteers to enhance the quality of life throughout Westchester or in their communities. The awards are presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of human services, humanitarianism or philanthropy or for their outstanding leadership in initiating, improving or expanding services or programs.
DSS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said the Hall of Fame recognizes the deep commitment and talent Westchester seniors continue to bring to the county.
“Letters from people who nominated the seniors use words like ‘kindness,’ ‘beloved’ and ‘good will ambassador’ to describe them,” Carpenter said. “This is proof that getting older does not prevent people from contributing to their communities and improving the lives of others. They are a vital part of the quality of life in our county.”
Five seniors will receive special recognition at the luncheon.
Gertie Ferrell of Mount Vernon is a longtime volunteer for senior programs in that city such as the nutrition program at the Doles Community Center and as the leader at Grace House, a senior apartment building, through DSPS’ Services Outstationed to Seniors program.
Leonard Fischman of White Plains, who had owned a dry cleaning store, founded and led a cancer support group for more than 22 years following the death of his son from cancer in 1985. He is also a “volunteer chaplain,” who visits patients of Jewish and other faiths at White Plains Hospital Center.
Paul Kerlee of Elmsford had been a pioneer in teaching folk dances from nations around the world to generations of school children and young adults. He has traveled to some 75 countries, and formerly taught at Manhattanville College and the Hillside School in Hastings-on-Hudson.
Leatrice (Lee) Palmer of White Plains was a former “official storyteller” for children at the White Plains Public Library and led book sales for the library’s “Friends,” a volunteer group. She is also a longtime volunteer at Sunnyside, one of Historic Hudson Valley restorations.
The late Kathryn Hirsch of Scarsdale had also been chosen to receive special recognition at the luncheon but she passed away earlier this month. Her contributions, however, will still be cited. Hirsch had dedicated her life to young children and their parents and is a former president of Parents Place, a not-for-profit community agency in White Plains. Parents Place promotes positive parent/child relationships and healthy childhood development from birth through age 5.
Nominations come from the community, and the winners were selected by a screening committee composed of Hall of Fame members and DSPS staff. To be nominated, a person must be a Westchester resident who is at least 60 years old and have made significant and enduring contributions to the county.
The names of Hall of Fame winners are engraved on plaques that are permanently displayed at the DSPS office in Mount Vernon. More than 800 seniors have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since it began.
Thirty-seven seniors will be honored with certificates for their leadership roles in their communities:
BRONXVILLE: Florence Baskas
CORTLANDT MANOR: Sheila Guida
CROTON-ON-HUDSON: Don Daubney, Joyce Finnerty, John Sekelsky
EASTCHESTER: Victoria G. Kozlow, David R. Kozlow, Mary Ann Tsao Larkin
HARRISON: Lucille Held, Eleanor M. Russo
HAWTHORNE: Camille Cardone
KATONAH: Ella Saunders
LARCHMONT: Nancy F. Angiulo, Marlene Kolbert
MAMARONECK: Fred Cronin
MOUNT VERNON: Queenie Guidry
OSSINING: Antoinette Daddazio
PEEKSKILL: Kathleen L. Moshier
PLEASANTVILLE: Carole Ortiz
POUND RIDGE: Catherine H. Wynkoop
RYE: Doris S. Blank, Ellen “Sis” D’Angelo, Ruth Jaskow
SLEEPY HOLLOW: Rolando Pujol and Pura Pujol
SOMERS: Flo Brodley, Patricia Kelleher
VERPLANCK: James Lippert
WHITE PLAINS: Vera DeRuvo, Frank S. Jazzo, Lucy Persampieri, Alfreda Williams
YONKERS: Gloria Brescia, Ferentine Brown, Lillian Pierorazio
YORKTOWN: Irving Kaufman
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS: Arthur Melendez
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