Three Delaware County senior citizens will be recognized by the county Office for the Aging at the Delaware County Senior Council's annual meeting and dinner at the Delhi American Legion at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Joan and Bob Cronauer of Franklin are the recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Contribution Award, which recognizes older residents who have, by their community involvement, displayed exemplary commitment to improving the quality of life of their fellow residents.
Delhi resident Gary Manning was named Senior Citizen of the Year. Manning is the 35th recipient of the award that honors persons who best exemplify the positive impact that senior citizens have on their communities.
Joan Cronauer was an elementary teacher at Franklin Central School. She retired in 1998, and has been a member of the Franklin Board of Education for 10 years.
Bob Cronauer ran the family farm until 1984, and then became a plumber and general contractor.
In that same year, the Cronauers took a first-aid training class that led to their decision to become members of the Franklin Fire Department in preparation for joining the emergency squad. They trained to become first responders, then basic EMT, intermediate EMT and finally advanced critical-care providers. They are the only two to be accredited to serve in this role in the greater Franklin area, and two of eleven serving the entire county.
The Cronauers said they spend much of their time serving as EMT instructors for other volunteers as well as providing advanced critical-care assistance in emergencies.
"The staff members of the Delaware County Office for the Aging are proud to be able to recognize Bob and Joan for their distinguished and dedicated service; they embody the true spirit of volunteerism," Tom Briggs, OFA director, said in a media release. "We all can learn from their example."
Gary Manning was raised in the Delhi area, and after serving in the Marines, he returned to Delhi to become a physical-education teacher and assistant coach at Delaware Academy. In 1973, Manning was hired by the State University College of Technology at Delhi to oversee the Equal Opportunities Program.
In 1975, the Manning _ with his wife, Joyce, daughter Sherri and son Michael _ moved to Delancey, where Manning became a director of the Delancey Water Corporation.
In 1988, Manning was elected as supervisor of Hamden and served for five years. The Manning family moved to Delhi, and within a year he was serving as mayor. In 1998, he was asked to run for supervisor for the town of Delhi. In this position, he was involved with citing the new Public Safety Building, upgrading Delhi's comprehensive plan and serving as Delaware County's budget officer.
During his five years of service as Delhi supervisor, he also served on the boards of Delaware Opportunities, The Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Delaware County Historical Association.
Manning served as Commander for Legion Post 190 from 2007 to '08 and continues to serve on the County American Legion Committee.
Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
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