| Association for Community Living establishes new Service Award Executive Director of The Association for Community Living, Donald J. Fletcher, announced the establishment of a new Service Award at the annual dinner and awards ceremony held recently in Holyoke, to honor those who have shown dedication and long-term commitment to the mission of The Association. The award was named after Judge Sidney Cooley, who has served as a volunteer board member of The Association for Community Living Board of Directors for more than 35 years. A practicing attorney, judge, loving husband and devoted father, Cooley is known as a consensus builder with a keen intellect and kind and generous heart. The first recipients awarded The Judge Sidney Cooley Award for 30 Years of Service were John Brigham and Richard Niedel. Other Service Award winners at the annual dinner and award ceremony were: Sylvia Adorno, Ray and Carol Alberici, Annette Belvilacqua, Chris Bossi, Michael Brick, Dolores Colwell, Lisa Colwell, Mary Eriquezzo, Lynn Ford, Gail Garland, Catherine Garsia, Judy Hickey, Judy Lafleche, Marion Lofton, Dana McNay, Alla Meyko, Amie Pike, Tahiria Stathis, Connie Topor, Rhonda Ward and Tammy Zdon, winners of The Georgian Chabot Award for Five Years of Service. The Ruth Fish Award for 10 Years of Service was given to Rebecca Corey, Rachelle Duplantis, Patricia Farrell, Wenda Luff, Wanda Puckett, Edwin Ramos, Richard and Kathryn Rose, and Josephine Yiaski. The Marjorie Lange Award for 15 Years of Service went to: Gnash Basinet, Lee Ciszewski, Jan Doody, Theresa Filippone, Clifford and Terry Gray, Suzanne Laba, Mike and Fran Lofland, Debra Theriault and Diana Thamage-Kibodya. LuAnn Bousquet, Patricia Cincotta, Deborah Montanari, William Ortiz, Barbara Pilarcik and Althea Smith received The Tusca Ottani Award for 20 Yeras of Service. The Association for Community Living was founded in 1952 by five parents of children with mental retardation. Today, The Association continues to provide support, resources and programs to those with developmental disabilities, serving 1,169 plus individuals and over 880 families in 90 cities and towns throughout western Massachusetts, from northern Worcester County to the New York border, and from Connecticut to Vermont. Satellite offices are located in Athol, Easthampton, Greenfield, Northampton, and Pittsfield, with the main office located in Springfield. For more information on The Association for Community Living, contact Beverly Herbert, director of Development and External Communication at 800-536-2910, 732-0531 or herberth@theassn.org. |
