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Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD A committee from the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts has selected a college president, a builder and an educator as this year's recipients of the William Pynchon medal and induction into the Order of William Pynchon. Pynchon Trustee Richard DeBonis introduced Bay Path College President Dr. Carol Leary, businessman Dan Roulier and teacher Allen Zippen at a press conference last Tuesday. For 93 years, the Pynchon awards have honored individuals in the greater Springfield area who have exhibited outstanding community service. Committee member Alta Stark said there were 14 nominations this year from which the committee had to select three recipients. She called the process "challenging" and full of "difficult decisions." "There is no shortage of amazing, giving people in Western Massachusetts," Stark said. Committee member Joel Morse called Leary an "ultimate role model" and noted her commitment to young women in western Massachusetts. Leary has been president of Bay Path College since 1994. Among the organizations and efforts she has supported is the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. She has helped raise millions of dollars for the organization. She has also helped organize the first health and fitness expo for women and has been a mentor for the young women in the GO FIT program. "It's hard to sit and listen to someone describe you," Leary said. She added that when she was told about the award she was "overwhelmed by the bigger than life people" who have received the honor in the past. "I'm deeply humbled and extremely honored to accept this award," she said. Zippen said with a smile the committee members fooled him when they met with him to tell him of his award. It's the tradition of the awards to surprise the recipients. "They did trick me," he said. "I can't get over this," he added. Zippen has been an educator for 45 years in various capacities in Springfield and has been very active as a Shriner. He currently serves on the Board of Governors at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield and was responsible for supervising the construction of the modern hospital there. He is also chairman of the Circus Committee for the Shrine temple. "I feel very blessed that people have enough confidence in me to allow me to do these things," he said. "Volunteerism is so crucial. I feel sorry for people who don't volunteer. They don't know what they are missing." Roulier, a builder who has been involved in projects for the Massachusetts Career Development Institute, the YWCA Battered Women's Shelter and the Dunbar Community Center, said that he was inspired by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. Roulier recounted that he was working on a project at the Hole in the Wall Camp in Connecticut, which was started by Newman for children with disabilities, when he met the actor. He was impressed with Newman's unassuming nature and decided he would try to pattern his approach to charitable activities after Newman's. In his introduction of Roulier, committee member Christopher Buendo said that one of Roulier's colleagues described the award winner as following "the SWAT team strategy." '"You go in, get the job done and let people continue or take over to keep it going,'" Buendo quoted Roulier's friend. '"Dan invests in people and lives by the belief that this investment in people will ultimately work toward improving the lives and conditions of those less fortunate.'" All three recipients will be formally honored at a dinner Oct. 29 at Chez Josef in Agawam. | ||||||
