Senator Griffo Honors Local Woman of Distinction

 New York State Senate Recognizes Exemplary Women from Across State

Joanne Dicob of Lewis County Receives Recognition

            Senator Joseph A. Griffo named Joanne Dicob the 2009 Woman of Distinction for the 47th Senate District at the 12th Annual Senate Women of Distinction ceremony this week in Albany, honoring their outstanding contributions in enriching the quality of life for their communities and beyond.  

            “It’s important to recognize women like Joanne, who help to provide a better quality of life for our communities,” said Senator Griffo.   “Joanne Dicob’s tireless work on behalf of the   residents of Northern New York, helping thousands to navigate the often complex and frustrating Albany bureaucracy.   When she was diagnosed with breast cancer following her retirement in 2007, Joanne turned her energies first to getting well, and then using her own struggle to motivate others with cancer as Lewis County General Hospital’s Oncology Navigator.”

            Griffo continued, “I am proud to once again sponsor the New York State Senate’s Women of Distinction program, which honors exceptional achievement, personal excellence and outstanding, courageous or heroic actions on the part of individual women.”

  The senate's "Woman of Distinction" program was created in 1998 to honor New York women who exemplify personal excellence, or whose professional achievements or acts of courage, selflessness, integrity or perseverance serve as an example to all New Yorkers. Past honorees from the 47th Senatorial District include Jeanne Donalty, Mary Chapin and Ruth Garner.

Griffo added, “From small business owner to public servant to health care advocate, Joanne sets an exemplary model for all New Yorkers, and I am extremely proud to honor her as a Woman of Distinction.”

Dicob was recognized during a reception at the Capitol this week along with other honorees from across the state.

ABOUT JOANNE DICOB . . .

Joanne Dicob was born in Lowville, New York and has lived in the Town of New Bremen, Lewis County since 1973.  She is married to Rodney Dicob has three children and 3 grandchildren.

For 17 years, Joanne and her husband operated a dairy farm in New Bremen.  While helping her husband run the farm, Joanne also worked for the late State Assemblyman, H. Robert Nortz from 1975 until 2001.

In 2001, Joanne was offered the position of District Liaison for then New York State Governor George E. Pataki.  From 2001-2006, Joanne represented the Governor in Lewis, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

Joanne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and after her treatments became a public advocate for breast cancer screenings and public outreach to other cancer patients.

In 2008, she began working part time as the Oncology Navigator for the Lewis County General Hospital.  Joanne used her cancer as motivation to guide other men and women through their journey with cancer. 

Joanne is a Thousand Islands State Park Commissioner, Board Member for Friends of Lewis County Hospice, Member of the Lewis County Community Services Board, Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) Instructor, former executive and committee member for Lewis County Republican Committee,  Past President of the New Bremen Community Improvement Association, and a former Town Councilwoman in the Town of New Bremen.