Yorktown, Somers, Purdys Seniors to be Inducted into Hall of Fame

Six seniors from Yorktown Heights, Mohegan Lake, Somers and Purdys will be inducted into the 30th annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame next month after they were nominated by their communities. 

Honorees are Salvatore Amuso, Robert Schavrien, Theresa Tinger of Yorktown Heights; Ray Procious of Mohegan Lake. Barry Singer of Somers and John Caralyus of Purdys are the honorees receiving special recognition.

They are among the 51 Westchester residents age 60 and older from the “Class of 2012” who will be inducted at a luncheon at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown on Ced. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

"The Senior Citizens Hall of Fame has been a tradition in Westchester for three decades," County Executive Robert P. Astorino said. "Our honorees are extraordinary. Individually and as a group, they strengthen our communities and are true role models for us all."

DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame showcases how much seniors contribute to the quality of life in Westchester and inspire others to follow their lead.

"They show that age is never a deterrent to being a vital member of our society,” she said. “In fact, it’s an advantage because of the life experiences they bring with them. It’s also terrific that they exemplify the neighbors-helping-neighbors approach of our signature Livable Communities Initiative.”

The Senior Citizens Senior Hall of Fame was started by former Westchester County Executive Andrew P. O’Rourke, who led the county from 1983 to 1997. Its purpose is to honor those who have contributed their energies and talents as professionals and volunteers to make significant and enduring contributions to enhance the quality of life countywide or in their home communities.

Seniors are nominated to the Hall of Fame by members of the community and the winners are selected by a screening committee composed of past Hall of Fame honorees, members of the Senior and Older American Advisory Councils and the DSPS staff.

The names of the honorees are engraved on plaques that are permanently displayed at the DSPS office in Mount Vernon. Over the past three decades, more than 900 seniors have been inducted.

Honorees receiving special recognition are:

John F. Caralyus of Purdys who worked for the New York Telephone Co. (now Verizon) for 32 years. He moved to Purdys in the Town of North Salem in 1971 and one of the first things he did was sign up for the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corp where he served for 12 years, including two as president. He was appointed to the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, serving as its chairman for two years. Caralyus has been an active volunteer since 1991 at the Westchester Exceptional Children’s School. He also volunteers with the “Puppies Behind Bars” organization where prison inmates raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and dogs who can detect explosive devices for law enforcement.

and

Barry Singer of Somers. He was an attorney and mortgage broker. He was co founder and president of At Home in Somers, founding president of the Somers Rotary Club and chair of the town’s Affordable Housing Board. He is also active on boards at Heritage Hills and was a founding board member and vice president of the Mid-Westchester YM-YWHA. He served on the board and volunteered as general counsel for the Jewish Board of Guardians. In addition, he has been a volunteer with AARP’s program to help seniors file their income tax returns. Two years ago, he was recognized by the county’s Board of Legislators when it proclaimed June 28, 2010 as Barry Singer Day in recognition of his long community involvement.

Isabel Villar, Cuban-born and the founder and executive director of El Centro Hispano since 1974 and a founder of the Westchester Hispanic Coalition, will receive top honors at the 30th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon.

"I feel very special," Villar said about the recognition. "I never forgot my beginnings. To get such a prestigious award is wonderful. I never thought I’d be in that category. This can only happen in the United States of America."

Class of 2012 (listed by communities)

Top Honoree:

White Plains: Isabel E. Villar

Special Recognition Honorees:

Mount Vernon - Marleen Dandridge

Peekskill - The Rev. Jeannette Phillips

Purdys – John Caralyus

Scarsdale - Carol Stix

Somers - Barry Singer

Class of 2012

Armonk - William Golub

Briarcliff Manor – Joseph Lalak

Chappaqua - Dr. William Flank

Cortlandt Manor – Marie Turner

Croton-on-Hudson - Laura Seitz, Carol Shanesy

Dobbs Ferry - Claire Stein

Eastchester - Robert Moynihan

Elmsford -Elaine Dixon

Hartsdale -David Doynow, Yvette Gralla

Larchmont - Lynn Reichgott

Mamaroneck - Charles Hessler, Shirley Jones

Mohegan Lake - Ray Procious

Mout Kisco - Lenore Safian

Mount Vernon – Phyllis Rosen, Anne Sweazey, Edithia Tracey

New Rochelle - Maureen Lundahl, Dorothy Sunshine, Judith Weber

North White Plains – Lorraine Wuttke

Pleasantville - Lina Spedaliere

Rye - Nancy Haneman

Rye Brook - Allene Berman, Rose Sciandra, Marcia Teschner

Scarsdale - Philip Feiner

Tarrytown - Kitty Geissler

Thirnwood- Lee Hart

White Plains - Janice Beatty-Hudson, Ganel Gibbs, Dickie Kay, Carolyn Rogers, Marge Weaver

Yonkers - Claudia Brigman, Euphemia Brown, Jacqueline Campanile, Margaret Silby, Barbara Weinbaum; Joyce Wignal

Yorktown Heights - Salvatore Amuso, Robert Schavrien, Theresa Tinger