Senator Bonacic Announces Sullivan County Retired Teacher and Long Time Volunteer as a NY Senate Woman of Distinction

Senator Bonacic announces that retired teacher and long-time community volunteer Barbara Sush has been chosen to be a New York Senate Woman of Distinction. This annual program honors women who make an exceptional contribution to their community.

Barbara Sush has been a leader in numerous organizations including vice president of the Sullivan County Literacy Volunteers, and vice president of the Professional Women of Sullivan County. She’s been on the board of the Sullivan County Child Care Council and a member of Community Unity. At present, Sush is a volunteer for Rape Intervention Services and Education (R.I.S.E.), and a Friend of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library. A Master Gardener for Cornell Cooperative Extension, Sush has amassed nearly 300 hours of volunteer service.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Barbara and her husband for many years. I have witnessed the extent of her volunteerism and the impact she has had in the community,” said Senator Bonacic

Her many acts of volunteerism in community projects began in 1997, when she organized a group to beautify areas within the Village of Monticello, including Joe’s Park and Sharoff’s Park. Since then, Sush led volunteers in landscaping the Department of Transportation triangles at Exit 104; landscaping DeHoyos Park making it more family-friendly; replacing the Joe Kenny Memorial Bridge which had been in disrepair; and helping to install new playground equipment at the Sunna Rasch Periwinkle Playground. They painted and planted around many of the buildings on Jefferson Street from Broadway to Exit 104, landscaped the Ted Stroebele Recreation Center, planted the Ken Goldfarb Walkway, beautified the Literacy Volunteers’ building and began a restoration of Dillon Park. She and her group continue to maintain these projects as well.

“Although she is a quiet woman who seeks no recognition, her actions speak loud in the community and she has proven herself to be a woman of distinction,” said Senator Bonacic.

Sush’s efforts have been recognized by various organizations throughout the years including the 2012 Community Service Award from the Professional Women of Sullivan County. She received a nomination for a Disney’s “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” Award (2001); recognition by Community Unity (2010); and recipient of an Achievement Award from Sullivan Renaissance (2012) for her many years organizing beautification projects in the Monticello area.

After thirty-five years as an elementary school teacher in the Liberty Central School District, Sush retired and began a new career as a part-time office manager at Body, Mind & Spirit Wellness Center. Sush and her husband, Richard, live in Monticello and have raised two sons, Matthew and Darren; they’ve just welcomed their first grandchild, Brennan Holbrook Sush.

Barbara Sush will join the other distinguished women from each Senate District at a ceremony to be held on Tuesday, May 13 in Albany.

Senator Bonacic congratulates Barbara Sush with this well-earned recognition. ####