Area state legislators congratulate local senior volunteers honored at statewide tribute

Albany, N.Y., May 22—New York State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) on Tuesday congratulated senior citizen volunteers from Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins counties who were honored at the State Capitol as part of the state’s 2019 Older New Yorkers’ Day celebration.

The New York State Office for the Aging (OFA) sponsors the annual event.

In a joint statement, O’Mara, Palmesano, and Friend said, “What a great honor for all of the outstanding and meaningful service these area seniors have provided to so many of their fellow seniors and their communities throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions.  It’s a fitting tribute to the thousands of hours they’ve volunteered, which have made such a difference in so many lives.”

According to the Office for the Aging, Older New Yorkers’ Day is celebrated in conjunction with events across the nation during May to observe National Older American's Month. This week’s event acknowledges the significant contributions made by older New Yorkers to their communities.  Local county OFAs submitted nominations for the recognition. 

The following area seniors were honored as part of this year’s event:

> Gregory Barulich (Pine City, Chemung County):  Gregory Barulich has been a volunteer with the Chemung Volunteer Action Corps (formerly RSVP) since 2007.  He also volunteers with the Finger Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross, Family Services of Chemung, and especially enjoys donating his time and passion to several area reading programs, with a particular interest in sharing the joys and the value of reading with school-aged children. A United States Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, Barulich was employed by Corning Incorporated for 38 years.  He and his wife, Christine, have four children and six grandchildren.   

> Joe Caparulo, Jr. (Elmira Heights, Chemung County): Joe Caparulo, Jr. has donated countless hours serving as a volunteer and a board member of numerous organizations in the Elmira area.  His commitment has increased opportunities in the areas of education, literacy, career development, housing, arts and culture, and human services.  He has made a positive impact on many programs including The Bright Red Bookshelf (Family Reading Partnership of Chemung Valley), the Community Room Gallery (Community Arts of Elmira), Friends of the Chemung County Library District, Office of Social Ministry and Gateways, and Development of Neighborhood Associations.  He has served in leadership positions for Catholic Charities of Chemung and Schuyler, the Human Relations Commission, Elmira Downtown Development, and Community Arts of Elmira, among others.  A lifetime Elmira resident, he is the former owner and proprietor of Cappy’s gift store.  He has three children, two stepchildren, and three grandchildren.

> Diane Edwards (Montour Falls, Schuyler County):  Diane Edwards has long used her commitment, experience, skills, and financial background to help strengthen the work of numerous area organizations including the Schuyler County Office for the Aging, Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester and the Southern Finger Lakes, Keuka Lake Association, Corning- Painted Post Civic Music Association, Watkins Glen Presbyterian Church, and the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes, among others.  She grew up in Waverly, graduated from Elmira College with a degree in economics, and earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Cornell University.  After living and working in Chicago, Edwards returned to the area in 1999 and served as the administrative head of the Department of Applied Economics and Management (Dyson School) at Cornell, from which she retired in 2013.  She has one son, and three stepdaughters.

> Kathleen LaMoreaux (Burdett, Steuben County): Kathleen LaMoreaux has a long history of serving her community.  A retired Watkins Glen Central School District teacher, Kate taught English and coached the Girls’ Swim Team, amassing an impressive record of victories and state titles.  She is a member of the Watkins Glen High School, Section IV Athletic, and Schuyler County Hall of Fame.  As a 4-H leader, Cub Scout den mother, and a member of the CASA Board, Kate has been able to continue working with children outside of the classroom.  Since 1973, she has been the Program Director and Instructor for the American Red Cross Summer Swim Program that has taught thousands of Schuyler County children and adults to swim.  Since retiring in 2010, she has volunteered for CareFirst, the Office for the Aging Advisory Council, St. James Episcopal Church, and the Watkins-Montour Lions Club.  She is an avid dulcimer player and volunteers for many local fundraisers and events.  An alumna of Watkins Glen High School, the State University of New York at Cortland, and Elmira College, Kate and her husband David raised two sons.  Kate is now the proud grandmother of four.

> Susan Arthur (Bath, Steuben County): Following her graduation from the State University of New York at Cortland, Sue began what would be a 33-year teaching career in the Canisteo School District, where she taught Physical Education, Life Science and Biology.  Sue has also spent more than three decades coaching youth sports and is well known throughout Steuben County as “Coach” to many soccer, basketball, softball and baseball teams.  Among many other positions, she was President of the Bath Little League and appointed as the first Woman Athletic Director in New York State.  Sue retired from teaching in 2002.  For the past 12 years, she has volunteered at Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital in Bath.  Seventeen years ago, Sue’s love for animals brought her to the Finger Lake SPCA, where she spends an average of 40-50 hours a week caring for at-risk animals. Her volunteer roles include Facilities Manager, Outreach Volunteer Coordinator, Equine Supply Coordinator and Fundraising Facilitator. She is a member of the Emergency Rescue Team, taking care of logistics and participating in the rescue of animals from horrible conditions. . She met her husband, James, in 1974 and, together, they raised two sons and have two grandchildren.

> Nancy Snyder (Hammondsport, Steuben County): A lifelong Steuben County resident, Nancy graduated from Hammondsport Central School District in 1960 and earned her nursing degree from St. James Mercy School of Nursing in Hornell.  She retired from nursing, at Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital in Bath, in 2016.  During her decades of nursing, she was a floor nurse, ambulatory surgery nurse, and an emergency room nurse.  Her extended service, particularly on overnights in the emergency room, earned her the nickname “Nancy Night Nurse.”  She has been a 38-year member of the Pulteney Presbyterian Church, where she served as an elder.  She has also taken the lead in organizing the community’s annual CROP-walk to fight hunger.  Most notable has been Nancy’s service as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and her 39-year membership with the Pulteney Volunteer Ambulance Corps (PVAC).  Nancy continues to serve the Pulteney, Hammondsport, and Bath areas as an EMT.

> Carolyn Warner (Owego, Tioga County): Carolyn volunteers in many different types of programs serving the very young to the very old, including as a volunteer Medicare counselor, a volunteer New York State Ombudsman at Riverview Manor Health Care, and for numerous organizations including Tioga Opportunities, Inc. and Child Evangelism Fellowship.  She is the treasurer of her church where, among other duties, she organizes mission trips through the “Work and Witness” program to locations including Guatemala, Columbia, Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi. She serves on the Board of Directors for Jesus Film Harvest Partners.  Born in Michigan, Carolyn and her family first settled in New York State in 1989.

> Louise Matosich (Ithaca, Tompkins County): Born and raised in Ithaca, where she and her husband raised a family of their own, in retirement Louise has committed her time to volunteering for a number of organizations.  She volunteers at the Salvation Army every Saturday and Sunday preparing food and cleaning the kitchen.   She visits Cayuga Ridge, a local nursing facility where she brightens the day of many residents with her singing – and will even offer the residents the microphone to allow them to sing their own favorite songs.  Additionally, for nearly 30 years Louise has volunteered at the History Center.