WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER ANNOUNCES 39TH ANNUAL SENIOR HALL OF FAME.
Virtual Celebration on December 3 Honoring the Achievements of 44 Seniors from 25 Municipalities.
(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive George Latimer will join in honoring the achievements of 44 senior citizens from throughout the County at the 39th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards on Friday, December 3 at 11:30 a.m. This year’s program names Judy Fink of Purchase and Lloyd Cort of Greenburgh with top honors. This will be the second year that this event will be livestreamed virtually via the Westchester Public Private Partnership for Aging Services website.
Latimer said: “It is my honor to commend this active group of Westchester County residents, and induct them into our Senior Citizens Hall of Fame for their dedication and commitment to our communities. This longstanding tradition is a simple way for us to say thank you, and recognize top honorees like Mr. Cort and Ms. Fink for their time, energy and promise to enhancing the quality of life of those around them.”
44 Westchester County residents ages 60 and older will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday during the virtual awards presentation. The Class of 2021 includes 18 nominees over the age of 80, and 4 over the age of 90. Our oldest nominee this year is 93.
DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said the achievements of the Hall of Fame honorees show the importance of people giving back to their communities and to each other. Carpenter said: “The honorees show that age is never a deterrent to being a vital member of our society. In fact, it’s an advantage because of the life experiences they bring with them. Their generous contributions have helped to make Westchester County one of the most senior-friendly places in the world.”
The Senior Hall of Fame began as part the 300th Anniversary of Westchester County’s founding. Its purpose was to showcase how seniors have contributed to building the County. Almost 1250 seniors have been inducted since.
Among this year’s award recipients, four seniors will receive Special Recognition: Dr. Sanat Dagli MD, of Irvington, Jim Dolan, of Verplanck, Ms. Joyce May Henery, of Yonkers and William (Billy) Thomas, of Mount Vernon will be recognized.
The Senior Citizens Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS); the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; Westchester County Livable Communities and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.
Event can be viewed from the www.westchesterpartnership.org website. For sponsorships and more information, contact Rose Cappa at rose@theeventdepartmentny.com or (914) 747-0519.
To be nominated, seniors must have made significant and enduring contributions to enhance Westchester’s quality of life through their professional work, volunteer achievements or both. Nominations are made by members of the community, and the honorees are selected by a panel of judges. The names of past honorees are engraved on plaques that are permanently displayed at the DSPS office in Mount Vernon.
Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2021
Top Honors: Judy Fink, LCSW, Purchase, NY
Judy Fink, a certified social worker, has been with Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) for 26 years, and for the past 15 years has been director of geriatric services where she provides care management to hundreds of Westchester seniors. She also served as coordinator of WJCS’ Project Time-Out, an in-home respite program to give caregivers a break from their 24/7 responsibilities. She has received the UJA Federation Communal Award, the WJCS’ Leonard Rohmer Award for high professional achievement, and the Golden Harvest Award. Before joining WJCS, Judy Fink worked many years in hospitals, providing services to cancer patients and their families. The ability of seniors to age safely at home is essential to their peace of mind, as well as their family and caregivers. Judy Fink oversees WJCS's comprehensive geriatric services, including in-home assessments, personalized care planning, on-going case management, guidance on senior living options, and information and referrals for seniors. The program enables older individuals to age safely in the homes and communities.
Top Honors: Lloyd R. Cort, Greenburgh, NY
Lloyd has been a constant advocate for the cause of the seniors in the Town of Greenburgh. He has actively participated and supported of all mentioned activities that relates to seniors. As chair of the CDAC, he was instrumental in the Theodore D. Young Community Center receiving a 28-passenger ADA compliant bus for the seniors in Greenburgh.
Lloyd is committed to assisting the disadvantaged. He has been instrumental in the preservation of open space and the development of a well-manicured and functional park system in Greenburgh, active in the improvements at Travis Hill, Washington Avenue (Kiddyland), and Yosemite parks, which benefit lower income families. He helped secure continued support for the PD’s Summer Youth Camp. Lloyd worked with the town Housing Authority to apply for broadband access for residents in scattered sites.
Westchester resident since 1969 and Parkway Gardens since 1973. Lloyd and his wife Gwen of 52 years raised two children who attended Greenburgh Central Schools. They actively participated in numerous volunteer activities in the school and community. Their home was always open to the children in the neighborhood many of whom waited there for school bus even as High School Seniors; they also hosted educational tutorials on Saturdays, which benefitted the children in the area. As a retired executive, Mr. Lloyd Cort has devoted his time with a life of service to Greenburgh; his home and his community.
Special Recognition: Dr. Sanat Dagli MD, Irvington, NY
Growing up in a family of 10 people in a one bedroom apartment, Dr. Dagli managed to educate himself from public school to medical school reading under the railroad station light. He arrived from India in 1971, finished Pediatric Residency in 1974. Worked as an Interns Coordinator at St. John’s Riverside Hospital. Now in private Pediatric Practice for the last 47 years.
Dr. Dagli always goes above and beyond for his patients. He loves what he does, caring for these children he sees on a daily basis brings Joy and warmth to his heart, and he feels Blessed to be able to do so. During this critical time with the COVID crisis he was always available regardless of the risks for himself and his patients.
At Indian American Cultural Association of Westchester (I.A.C.A.W) he created a scholarship program and funded the program which lasted more than 30 consecutive years. The high school students who achieved the highest score in the SAT exam and PSAT exam were honored, and prizes were given. This program still continues. Also participated in Indian Heritage Day programs and helped them organize in conjunction with Westchester County and I.A.C.A.W. Participated in the Senior programs arranged by I.A.C.A.W. As well he had the honor of being a keynote speaker at Heritage of India Festival.
Dr. Dagali has volunteered and supported various organizations which helped women's rights, human values, education and inequality. Participated in children shows and activities through various South Indian Asian groups. He also runs a free SAT and PSAT class for students.
He is a vegetarian, married to his wife for 50 years who is also a doctor. He has two children that followed both in his wife and his footsteps in becoming doctors as well.
Special Recognition: Jim Dolan, Verplanck NY
As a native of the Bronx, Jim used his military and police training to keep the NYC streets safe. For more than 20 years, Jim worked the streets with honor, pride and dedication. If working with the NYPD was not enough, Jim decided to dedicate himself to the children of NYC as sports director for PAL, the Police Athletic League. This was a job he did for the next 18 years of his life. His dedication to service was even recognized on the international level. Jim Dolan is a veteran, retired NYPD officer, and a proud New York Presbyterian volunteer chaplain. As a veteran, Jim served proudly in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. It was a time of great upheaval, and became a vehicle for Jim’s undying concern, respect and duty for all people, especially veterans. After he was honorable discharged from the Army, Jim continued his call to duty with the New York City Police Department. After retirement Jim began volunteering as a chaplain’s assistant and in the PACU at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale Florida. When he was no longer was making the journey south, he looked for volunteer opportunities in Westchester. He first started at the VA in Montrose. To this day he continues to volunteer at the VA weekly helping the vets get to various activities and social gatherings.
Special Recognition: Ms. Joyce May Henery, Yonkers, NY
Joyce Henery was born and raised in Casablanca, daughter of England born father and brilliant French mother who were both music lovers. She attended the National Conservatory of Music in Casablanca with diplomas in voice and operetta. After a brief enrollment at the Paris Conservatory of Music she switched to the Academy of Music in Vienna where she graduated with an MMA including diplomas in Opera and Lied and Oratorio. She was a founding member of the International Opera Studio and sang in various opera houses such as the Vienna Chamber Opera Company, as a soloist in the Brno Baroque Opera Festival, the Baden Bei Wien Operetta festival, and many others. Joyce is the past president of The Fine Arts Orchestral Society (sponsor of the Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra), Chaminade Music Club, Aquehung Women’s Democratic Club, Mayor’s Community Relations Committee, Cola Senior Citizen Center and vice president of the Untermyer Performing Arts Council. She is presently the Secretary for the Yonkers Area Chapter #5427 of AARP, on the Board of the Westchester County Federation of Women’s Clubs and Judge for NYSMA, YPO’s annual Concerto Competition and the Yonkers Idol search. As president of the many organizations Joyce has provided a wealth of information and assistance to many, particularly senior citizens, encouraging them to get involved and being supportive. As a member of AARP Joyce has been involved in many civic matters which concern senior citizens i.e. medicare, health insurance, drug prices and Social Security, and spreading information to others. In addition to her many volunteer roles she is an Election Inspector for the Board of Elections. Because of her musical talents and education, Joyce has been a judge for the Yonkers Philharmonic’s annual Concerto Competition for high school students. Joyce has lived in Yonkers, NY for the past 42 years and feels totally at home in Yonkers which reminds her of the international environment of Casablanca. She has two wonderful children; Jonathan who is Vice President of JVC Corporation (artists Christo and Jeanne-claude, his aunt), and Julia, a very versatile mother of two delightful girls, Sophia, 15 yrs. old and Magnolia, aged 10.
Special Recognition: William (Billy) Thomas, Mount Vernon, NY
William ``Billy'' Thomas began working at the Mount Vernon (NY) Boys' Club (MVBC) in 1955. Over the next 22 years he rose from athletic to program to camp and finally to Executive Director. During each and every year, young men were placed in his skillful hands and taught the values of life, service to community, sportsmanship, courage, integrity and respect for self and others. He became an icon, a living legend for his work in inspiring young people to pursue and live positive and progressive family and professional lives. In 1968, duty to his nation called. Mr. Thomas took leave from his work and joined the United States Army to serve in Vietnam. He returned to the Boys' Club in 1971 to continue his work and improve the life skills and lives of young men in the community. He has served the Mount Vernon community in various capacities for over 45 years. Mr. Thomas's accomplishments are too many to site, but a few must be noted. In 1993, Mr. Thomas was joined by Denzel Washington, as they received The Boys and Girls Club of America Connection Magazines Mentor Magic Award. In 1997 Mr. Thomas received the ``Man of the Year Award'' from the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Club of New Rochelle, New York. Mr. Thomas also worked for over 20 years in the New Rochelle School District as a special education teacher. Mr. Thomas worked with countless young people in an effort to either turn their lives around, or continue their lives on a positive path. Over the years, Mr. Thomas mentored thousands of young people. Some are now doctors, lawyers, bus drivers, ministers, fathers and mothers as well as the current executive director of the Mount Vernon Club--Lowes Moore. Mr. Thomas also influenced several former NBA players: brothers Gus and Ray Williams, as well as Calvin ``Scooter'' and Rodney McCray. Mr. Thomas always went about his work without praise or formal recognition. He has taught all the young people that entered the club that each has a responsibility to lend a hand to those less fortunate. His actions speak volumes as he worked with special needs children in New Rochelle and White Plains, New York. He also volunteered his services in many areas that included teaching chess, reading, a Youth Commissioner for the City of New Rochelle and of course, a basketball coach.
Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2021
Armonk
Marian Hamilton
Chappaqua
Joan S Lang
Cortland Manor
Wilfredo A. Perez
Croton-On-Hudson
Lindsay Audin,
Dr. Heena Rajdeo MD, FRCS, FACS
Dobbs Ferry
William (Bill) Florin
Eastchester
Arlene Gruber
Granite Springs
Nancy J. Gerbino
Greenburgh
Lloyd R. Cort **
Harrison
Trevor Strayer
Hartsdale
Barbara J. High
Irvington
Dr. Sanat Dagli MD*
Mount Vernon
The Honorable Dolores Battailia
Crystal Bowen
Rosemarie DeLuca Cornacchio
Bettie Doretha Johnson
Linda Morgan-Glover
Eulahlee Myers
William Thomas
New Rochelle
Jean Clarke
Ellen Hollander
Rev. David F. Jarvis
North Salem
John L White
Ossining
Thomasina Laidley-Brown
Northern Wilcher
Purchase
Judy Fink, LCSW **
Dr. Sudhir Vaidya
Rye
Dr. Sreenivas Murthy
Rye Brook
Francesco (Frank) Gullusci
Lauren Miscimarra
Barbara Stern
Scarsdale
Greg Arcaro
Donald J. Fleishaker
Madelon K. O’Shea
Dr. Pravin Patel
Somers
Ruth Green
C. Jerry Ploss,
South Salem
Peter Parsons
Verplanck
Jim Dolan
White Plains
Lorraine Buonocunto
Yonkers
Maria Consuelo Garcia
Joyce May Henery
Olivia King
Yorktown Heights
Rosemary DeCapua
** Top Honors
* Special Recognition
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