SAGE AWARDS
Celebrating the Wisdom and Worth of Seniors.
There was no shortage of awe and inspiration as the Council on Aging of Martin County named the winners of the 2019 Sage Awards, held March 30 at Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club in Palm City.
The Council on Aging, along with presenting sponsors Joseph C. and Ann S. Day and honorary chairpersons Robert Crandall and William Crandall, honored 22 outstanding nominees for their contributions and service to their communities.
This year’s ceremony introduced a new honor, the Lotus Society Awards, to recognize philanthropists who make a substantial and unique contribution to the Council on Aging. The awards, custom designed by local artist Geoffrey Smith, were presented to Dick and Nancy Cassell and the Hobe Sound Community Chest.
In addition to honoring so many extraordinary individuals, the Sage Awards is the signature fundraiser for the Council on Aging. This year, nearly $100,000 was raised to benefit Meals on Wheels, The Club (a therapeutic adult day program), the Joseph C. & Ann S. Day Medical Center, geriatric care management, caregiver support and 21 other charitable services.
SAGE AWARDS HONORS OUTSTANDING SENIORS FOR THEIR PURPOSE-DRIVEN ‘SECOND ACTS’
“These years are a second chance to reinvent yourself by following new priorities, rededicate yourself to long-held values, or reevaluate how you want your life to make a difference. Our Sage Award nominees are all living remarkable second acts.”
Proceeds from the Sage Awards will benefit the charitable work of the Council on Aging of Martin County, which includes Meals on Wheels, a therapeutic Adult Day Club, the Joseph C. & Ann S. Day Medical Center, geriatric care management and caregiver support.
2019 Sage Award Winners
Human Services
Mary Kay Buckridge
The 2019 Sage Award winner for Human Services is Mary Kay Buckridge for her continued contribution to Helping People Succeed. Helen has made a significant difference in the lives of the populations that Helping People Succeed serves—assisting adults with disabilities obtain and maintain employment; providing parent education and training to families with children with diagnosed conditions; and helping students with behavioral/mental health issue remain in regular classroom. Her guidance in policy issues, long term planning and fund raising has been critical to the growth of Helping People Succeed.
Education
Jane Ditmars
The 2019 Sage Award winner in Education is Jane Ditmars. Jane’s entire life has been one of service to others, a selfless journey of enabling people to realize their full potential. Jane has volunteered for 11 years at Hope Rural School and more recently at KinDoo Family Center, tutoring young children and immigrant adults in literacy. She is often seen transporting clothing and household items to Indiantown for needy families.
Chairman's Award
John P. (Jack) Forde
The 2019 Chairman’s Award was presented to John (Jack) P. Forde for giving so freely of his business acumen and strong belief in giving back to the community. Jack serves on the Cleveland Clinic Martin Health Foundation where he is a director and former Board Chairman. Jack helps others realize the practical and financial benefits of strategic charitable giving. He also volunteers at Memory Bridge where he works with individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Faith-Based Service
Alfred B. (Al) Warren
The 2019 Sage Award winner in Faith-Based Service is Dr. Alfred Warren. Dr. Warren retired from his private dental practice in 2006 after a career characterized by service, faith, education and helping those less fortunate. He spent six years as pastor of a church in Orlando and lived four years in Haiti doing missionary dental work in addition to running his own private practice. He embarked on more than 26 Christian dental mission trips to over 20 countries. Following his retirement, he opened The Christian Community Care Center in Stuart to provide dental care for people with low incomes. Thousands of people on the Treasure Coast have benefited from this low cost or no cost dental care which is not covered by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare.
Health Science and Medicine
Helen Cook
The 2019 Sage Award winner for Health Science & Medicine is Helen Cook. She has volunteered with Treasure Coast Hospice for over 12 years and has poured her knowledge, experience and love into the lives of patients in so many ways. She leads the volunteer team that makes patient comfort calls, personally calling hundreds of patients and caregivers on a weekly basis. Helen is a bright spot for people during some of their darkest hours, always eager and relentless in her desire to help those who are in need of a kind word or a shoulder to lean on.
Arts and Culture
Dr. John Enyart
The 2019 Sage Award winner in Arts and Culture is Dr. John Enyart. Dr. Enyart has had an enormous impact on the lives of hundreds of young people as a distinguished music educator. He is founding director and conductor of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony, which brought together the best young talent of the Treasure Coast for the last 30 years. His unwavering devotion to music education has had a great impact on improving the quality of life for the entire community with countless concerts performed by these extraordinary young musicians.
Remarkable Caregiver
Diane Graczyk
The 2019 Sage Award winner for Remarkable Caregiver is Diane Graczyk. Diane has taken on leadership roles in many organizations she has served. She is also a member of Memory Bridge, organized at Sandhill Cove to help care for individuals with dementia. After completing a training, Diane started a Memory Bridge group at Harbour Ridge to help others cope with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. She is an elder at her church where she has several responsibilities serving both the elderly and families.
Professional Service
Don Cuozzo
The 2019 Sage Award winner in Professional Service is Don Cuozzo. Don’s 35-year career as professional planner combined with his extensive knowledge of local, state and federal governmental procedures and processes has assisted the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) in keeping the waterways on the entire east coast of Florida environmentally safe for all of us to enjoy. Serving on the board of FIND, Don makes sure the actions of FIND undertakes and upholds the best interest of taxpayers.
Community Service
Bette Evans
The 2019 Sage Award winner in Community Service is Elizabeth “Bette” Evans. Bette has been volunteering at the Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce for nearly 30 years, serving as volunteer receptionist and as chairperson of the Hobe Sound Christmas Parade and the Festival of the Arts. She also created “Inside Hobe Sound,” a behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings of the Hobe Sound Community. She also is a long-time member of the GFWC of the Hobe Sound Women’s Club where she has taken on a leadership roles throughout the years.
Military and Veterans Services
Robert (Bob) Schneider
The 2019 Sage Award winner for Military & Veterans Service is Robert (Bob) Schneider. Bob has volunteered with various Martin County non-profits for 35 years. The last 22 years he has prepared meals at Mary’s Kitchen for the homeless. In 2015, he collaborated with the Salvation Army, VFW and the American Legion so volunteers could use their Canteen Van to take food to homeless veterans. He also prepares food for students at Project Lift and the 10th Street Recreation Center’s East Stuart Program Initiative. Bob understands the importance of feeding the community not only through food but also feeding the soul with supportive words and kind gestures.
Charlie Kane Award
Robert J. and Carol Weissman
The Charlie Kane Award is a tribute to an outstanding advocate for senior services and the namesake of the Charles and Rae Kane Center. The award is presented to an extraordinary example of dedicated service and commitment to the community, making our community a better place for seniors. This year’s award was presented to Robert and Carol Weissman for their significant contributions to dozens of charities in Martin County. Their dedication to helping people goes beyond the call of duty.
All of the 2019 Sage Award nominees were recognized throughout the evening for being remarkable and inspiring senior role models:
- Mary Kay Buckridge
- Helen Cook
- Don Cuozzo
- Ken De Angeles
- Jane Ditmars
- Dr. John Enyart
- Elizabeth (Bette) Evans
- Emanuela (Ella) Ford
- John P. (Jack) Forde
- H.R. (Hank) Gonzalez
- Diane Graczyk
- Rev. Andrew Mahalares
- William and Carolyn Michaud
- Jacquelyn (Jackie) Roesch-Sanchez
- Robert (Bob) Schneider
- Patricia Szczesny, PHR, SHRM-CP
- Christos (Chris) Tsaftarides
- Dr. Alfred B. (Al) Warren
- Robert J. and Carol Weissman
- Ann M. Young
Gytha Von Aldenbruck, from Hutchinson Island, won a Sage Award in Community Service for her unwaivering commitment to multiple organizations across the Treasure Coast including Treasure Coast Hospice, Memory Bridge, Alzheimer's Community Care, the American Cancer Society, the Arts Council on Martin County and Martin County Community Foundation.
Dale M. Hudson, from Stuart, received a Sage Award in Faith-Based Service. For 23 years Dale has served as the chairman of Mary's Kitchen - an outreach mission of St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Through his devotion to this mission, over 200,000 meals have been served to the hungry and homeless living in our midst.
Dr. Reza Khatib, from Palm City, received a Sage Award in Healthcare & Health Services. Dr. Khatib is a retired neurosurgeon who continues to pursue his passions through far-reaching philanthropic work. He endows chairs and professorships in Neurological Surgery and Oncology at four U.S. universities. He was instrumental in the opening of the first hospice in Iran in 2017. And, he created the Khatib Bridge and Education Center here in Stuart.
Dr. Barbara Bush, from Stuart, received a Sage Award in Healthcare & Health Services. Dr. Bush has continued her 39 years of volunteering with the Martin Health Auxiliary well into her retirement, logging 18,450 hours of service. Whether in a leadership role or helping patients through the No One Dies Alone Program, she's known for her remarkable dedication to health care.
Irwin Stovroff, from Boca Raton, won a Sage Award in Human Services for founding Vets Helping Heroes at the age of 84, which underwrites service dogs for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The organization has provided service dogs for more than 300 veterans. Well into his 90s, Irwin continues as President of Vets Helping Heroes.
Dr. David L. Anderson, from Port Salerno, won a Sage Award in Professional Services for his lifelong commitment to improve the quality of education for all students in Martin County. At the age of 71, he was the longest sitting School Board member in the State of Florida. He is one of the county's best known educators and the namesake for our newest middle school in Martin County.
