Older Catholics lauded for service

Catholic seniors in the Albany Diocese have been recognized for their volunteer efforts by two local groups, evidence that faithful service can continue throughout life.

Next month, Cynthia Cromie will receive the Third Age Achievement Award in the Health and Human Services category from Senior Services of Albany on behalf of the Mayor's Championship Team, an early literacy program she founded in Albany. And 20 other Catholics received Senior Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Capital District Senior Issues Forum in September.

A parishioner of St. Mary's in Albany, Mrs. Cromie said mothers are a powerful resource for change. "Moms are your best ally in helping children," she said.

The Mayor's Championship Team provides new teen mothers with books to read to their children. The goal of the program is to expose children to as many books as possible in their preschool years to get them ready for school. The program is a structured literacy program that promotes good reading habits early in life.

When a parent reads to a child, Mrs. Cromie said, the child learns vocabulary, language skills and a love of learning.

While living in Chicago, Mrs. Cromie tutored two elementary school children from the same family.

"They had a limited vocabulary and limited book skills," Mrs. Cromie said.

She said when the mother became pregnant with a third child the two women worked out a deal: Mrs. Cromie would tutor the elementary school children free of charge if the mother agreed to read to her new baby each day.

A mother of five and grandmother to two, Mrs. Cromie read to her children and remembers being read to by her own grandmother.

Mothers who participate in the Mayor's Championship Team receive age-appropriate books each year at the Albany Tulip Festival to read to their children and promise to read to the children daily.

"The world learns through stories," Mrs. Cromie said. "We're careful when we're in the woods because of Red Riding Hood. We don't go into people's homes because of Goldilocks. Most good stories are about real things. They are tremendously powerful; that's why Christ used stories to teach."

The Third Age Achievement Awards recognize individuals 60 years of age and older who are making distinct contributions in the community each day.

Mrs. Cromie said she is accepting the award on behalf of the Mayor's Championship Team. "The award is not about me," she said.

Mary and Walter Golden were among 20 Catholics to receive the Lifetime Achieve-ment Awards. The couple was recognized for their work in organizing the Halfmoon Senior Citizens Association.

"We were shocked, amazed and happy," Mrs. Golden said of receiving the award.
According to Eileen Pettis, director of the Halfmoon Senior Citizens Association, the couple helped establish the organization and Mrs. Golden served as its first director.
"Walter and Mary worked hand in hand," she said. "They were instrumental in getting this center built."

Originally from downstate the couple raised two children on Long Island. They moved to Halfmoon in 1986 in order to be closer to their son. Parishioners of St. Mary's of Crescent, Mrs. Golden speaks highly of her community.

"We love it," she said. "We have beautiful neighbors."

The Goldens do what they can to help their neighbors and the community. Mr. Golden, 87, drives friends and neighbors to appointments and events.

Mrs. Golden calls home-bound seniors as part of a Saratoga County program. "We try to do a little goodness where we can," she said.

Other Catholics with awards from the Senior Issues Forum included:
• Margaret Murphy Forbes, who help start the vocal folk group at St. Joseph's in Scotia as well as Friends in Service Here.
• Geraldine Herrington, a parishioner of St. Thomas in Delmar, for her work as a librarian and volunteer;
• Ginger King, a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Church in Loudonville, who helped start Albany's Association for Retarded Citizens, now New Visions;
• Carmelo Privitera, Ph.D., a parishioner of Christ the King in Guilderland. Dr. Privitera, a professor of biological sciences, served in the infantry in Europe during World War II and later became a pacifist.

(10/23/08)