Russell E. Diethrick Jr. of Jamestown was honored recently with the 2023 Governor’s Exemplary Service Award.
The award is presented to an individual who is a standout among the nominees for Older New Yorkers’ Day.
A veteran of the U.S. Army reserves, Diethrick has served on the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging Advisory Board since its creation in 1973. He has received many awards for his professional work and volunteer contributions, including work with the county’s Council on Alcoholism, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, United Way, Boys and Girls Club, Babe Ruth World Series Committee and other organizations.
The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) recently honored over 90 older adults for their volunteerism as part of NYSOFA’s annual Older New Yorkers’ Day celebration presented during a November 3 livestream.
Awardees were nominated by New York’s 59 county Offices for the Aging and their partners who identified older adults making substantial contributions in their communities through volunteering and civic engagement. The livestream and other program materials are available on NYSOFA’s website, including a program book profiling all of the awardees, organized by county.
“It is my distinct honor to recognize this year’s nominees who make the state a better place to live and age for all New Yorkers through their decades of volunteerism, civic engagement, and selflessness. We often don’t think of older New Yorkers as an economic and social powerhouse, but that is exactly who they are, and it is our honor to recognize these contributions and showcase their incredible value,” said Greg Olsen, state Office for the Aging director. “I also thank our 59 county offices for the aging and the Association on Aging in New York for their daily efforts serving millions of older New Yorkers.”
This year’s honorees are from 55 counties in every region of the state. They are recognized for their support of charitable causes, their work with local health care and human services organizations, grassroots civic contributions, volunteer work with emergency management corps, local fundraising activities, and so much more.
Collectively, this slate of awardees has more than 5,500 years of life experience, more than 4,000 years of family experience, has volunteered for a combined 2,568 years, and raised 298 children, 295 grandchildren, 101 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.