Senator Kathy Marchione proudly announces Dr. Irma Waldo of Hillsdale as her 2014 New York State “Woman of Distinction” for 43rd Senate District

For Immediate Release: May 13, 2014

Contact: Josh Fitzpatrick, (518) 455-2381, fitzpatr@nysenate.gov      

Cell: (518) 542-2413, joshuakevfitz@yahoo.com    

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Senator Kathy Marchione proudly announces Dr. Irma Waldo of Hillsdale as her 2014 New York State “Woman of Distinction” for 43rd Senate District

Senator Marchione describes Dr. Waldo as a “true pioneer that has blazed a trail and broken down barriers by serving her community with care and commitment for more than 60 years”

Senator Kathleen A. Marchione (R,C-Halfmoon) today announced Dr. Irma Waldo of Hillsdale, New York as her 2014 New York State “Woman of Distinction” for the 43rd Senate District. The 43rd District represented by Senator Marchione includes parts of Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington Counties, and all of Columbia County.

Dr. Waldo was nominated for the prestigious Woman of Distinction honor by Dr. George Beneke and Sally Hopkins of Hillsdale, New York, which is located in Columbia County. Dr. Waldo was an original participant in the founding of, and currently serves as Medical Director of, Twin County Recovery Services of Columbia and Greene Counties, and has been a teacher, mentor and respected leader in her community.

The official public announcement of Dr. Waldo as Senator Marchione’s 2014 New York State Woman of Distinction for the 43rd Senate District was made this evening in Albany as the State Senate honored all of the 2014 Women of Distinction from each of the 63 Senate Districts during a special recognition ceremony. As part of her recognition, Dr. Waldo’s picture, and her biographical information, will be included in the Senate’s statewide 2014 Women of Distinction printed program, website and gallery on display in the Legislative Office Building in Albany.

“I am honored to announce Dr. Irma Waldo as my 2014 New York State ‘Woman of Distinction’ for our 43rd Senate District. Dr. Waldo truly is a woman of distinction – a woman of accomplishment and genuine service to others – in every sense of the word. Dr. Waldo’s life reflects a true commitment to teaching, mentoring, helping and healing through the practice of medicine. This truly distinguishes her and represents the best ideals of making a positive difference through service to, and caring for, others,” Senator Marchione said.

“Dr. Waldo has served her community with compassion and professionalism for over 60 years. She began her medical career during the early 1950’s, during a time when women doctors were very rare. Early in her medical practice, due to military obligations, Dr. Waldo was the only remaining doctor available in her entire community. She also was an original participant in the founding of, and currently serves as Medical Director of, Twin County Recovery Services of Columbia and Greene Counties. In short, Dr. Irma Waldo is a true pioneer, someone who has blazed a trail and broken down barriers and, in so doing, made her community, and our entire state, a healthier, better place for everyone. She is truly deserving of being named my New York State Woman of Distinction for our 43rd Senate District in 2014, and I am thrilled that she was selected for this prestigious recognition,” Senate Marchione stated.

“I would like to thank Senator Marchione for this recognition, I am grateful for being named the 2014 New York State Woman of Distinction for the 43rd Senate District. Helping heal others through the practice of medicine, teaching, mentoring and serving our community has been the focus and the fulfillment of my life. On this long journey of my life, I would not have been able to do anything if it was not for my God who has kept me in his right hand all the way. Being recognized for this is something I deeply appreciate,” said Dr. Waldo.

Women living in the district who have made their community and state a better place were eligible for nomination. Last year, Dr. Kari Bovenzi of Wynantskill, a distinguished pediatrician, owner of Genesis Pediatrics, and a powerful advocate for the treatment and prevention of Lyme disease, was named as the New York State Woman of Distinction for the 43rd Senate District. Similar to last year, a special advisory panel of local women again assisted Senator Marchione in reviewing all the nominations. The panel included Susan Reynolds of Easton and Sheila Lobdell of West Sand Lake.

Dr. Waldo – along with Senator Marchione’s 2014 local Women of Distinction honorees – will receive an official Senate Certificate and have their achievements, life, work and service publicly recognized during a special local ceremony in September. In addition, Dr. Waldo and the local honorees will have their picture and biographical information included as part of a keepsake local commemorative program.

Biography of Dr. Irma Waldo, Senator Kathy Marchione’s 2014 New York State

“Woman of Distinction” for 43rd Senate District:

Dr. Irma Waldo has served her community for more than 60 years. She began her career during early 1950’s, during a time when women were not frequently found in the field of medicine. At one point early in her practice, due to the military commitment of the one other physician in their town, Dr. Waldo was the only remaining doctor available in the community in which she practiced.

Dr. Waldo’s dedicated service to her community is extensive and impressive. She was an original participant in the founding of, and currently serves as Medical Director of, Twin County Recovery Services of Columbia and Greene Counties. Twin County has subsequently founded the Red Door Residential Recovery Services for Men in Hudson and the Riverside Recovery Residence for Women in Catskill, both of which provide substance abuse counseling programs.  She was the attending physician on North Wing at Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Philmont. She has served as Medical Director of Pine Haven and the Baptist Home in Rhinebeck.

Dr. Waldo served for over 20 years as School Physician for the Hudson City School District, the former RoeJan School and then the Taconic Hills School District. Wearing a different hat, she once served as president of the PTA at RoeJan School. She has served a term as President of Columbia Memorial Hospital Staff and Columbia County Medical Society.

Together with her office nurse, Mrs. Yvonne DelGrande, Dr. Waldo formed the all-volunteer RoeJan Hospice in the 1970’s. She trained volunteers in surrounding towns to expand the program to become Columbia County Hospice prior to the formation of the current Hudson Valley Community Hospice. She was a Sunday school teacher at the Hillsdale Methodist Church for 20 years and held a summer camp program for local children at her family residence to teach swimming lessons, as neither the community nor the local school had a pool for that purpose.  She is currently a part leader in a Bible Study, a choir member in the West Copake Reformed Church and has served in the past on the Consistory.

A graduate of Buffalo University and the University of Buffalo Medical School, Dr. Waldo was listed in Who’s Who in America at Buffalo Medical School. She was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society and received an anatomy award when she graduated first in her class in 1949.

Dr. Waldo survives her husband of 65 years, Dr. John Waldo, DDS. They have four children, two of whom are also physicians. Her various hobbies include gardening, horseback riding, tap-dancing and teaching. A literacy advocate, she has taught reading, tutoring both children and adults, and taught tap-dancing in her 80’s to a class of ‘Happy Tappers,’ ages 55 to 85, at a Senior Center. An avid skier, she was a member of the Catamount Ski Patrol in Hillsdale for over 40 years. 

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