Each May, as part of national Older Americans Month, NYSOFA celebrates older New Yorkers at a Senior Day event in Albany. Many older New Yorkers, chosen by their county Offices for the Aging, are honored and recognized for their outstanding contributions at the annual event. Here in Chautauqua County, our shining star was Louise Long.  Dr. Spanos, the Chautauqua County OFA director wrote about this prestigious award and our awardee in her monthly article in May of this year.  Louise and her lovely family were able to make the trip to Albany to receive the award. The governor, the New York state office for the aging director, the chair of the state senate aging committee and the New York state assembly all gave words of thanks and gratitude on that special day.

Here is the text from the publication compiled for the entire state:

“Louise Long has had a tremendous impact on her community and the country through

Her volunteer work with Jamestown General Hospital transporting patients, as well as the American Red Cross. She has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross since 1986, where her gentle manner and empathy have soothed those who were dealing with the loss of loved ones, home, and property during times of disaster. Most recently, she has been a welcoming face for those donating blood. Louise and her husband participate in local parades by driving the Red Cross van. She instills community service and volunteerism in her young grandchildren as they walk alongside her in parades handing out candy. In the past she was a disaster action team member, providing emergency assistance to countless victims displaced by house fires and has deployed nationally to assist during major disasters. Louise has mentored young women and still hears from some who were part of the Junior Miss program. Louise is the type of volunteer every organization would like to have, with a sunny nature and willingness to tackle any job put before her. Louise Long has lived in Chautauqua County her entire life. She was born in her grandmother’s house, in Kennedy, and met her husband at Midway State Park skating rink. After marrying, they settled in Panama, where they raised two daughters. Despite juggling work, a family business, and raising children, Louise always found time to give back to the community through volunteering. She officially retired from paid work four years ago, but continues to be an active volunteer for the Red Cross and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. She speaks proudly about her children and seven grandchildren and has been a great influence on them. Louise advises other to “Just do it! It will make you feel so good. And take all volunteer opportunities that come along; don’t lock yourself into doing just one thing with one organization (NYS OFA, 2016).”

Louise started her working career as a clerk for Hope windows. She left that job to raise a family but continued to do clerical work for her husbands land surveying business while raising the children. After the kids were semi-grown she took on the job of tax collector for Panama Central Schools, in addition to the family business ad her volunteer work. She officially retired just four years ago.

Louise has had a long career of volunteering. She started in the late 60’s or early 70’s (she can’t remember the date) at the Jamestown General Hospital transporting patients. From 1975 to Present she has been a Red Cross Volunteer first as a donor Ambassador and later as a Disaster Action Team Member working both locally following fires and nationally to respond to disasters. Most notable is her work with victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and earthquake victims in California. Also in 1975 she started working with the Junior Miss program, first as a chaperone and later as the chairman of the local program.  She worked with Junior Miss for almost 20 years. In 1994 she became a RSVP volunteer and through them has helped the Salvation Army with annual drives, the Visiting Nurses with flu clinics, the Blind Association, Children’s Safety Village as a greeter and mentor to the children, Community gardening projects through the Jamestown Renaissance Corp., CASAC (council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse), Sinclairville Library, and helped with community events like the annual Car Show. A friend at work knew someone who had Cystic Fibrosis, so Louise offered her time to help with local fund raising events for this charity. She continues today to regularly volunteer at Red Cross Blood drives and at the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame with her husband, Don.

Louise has had a tremendous impact on our community and our country through her volunteer work. Everyone talks about her welcoming and sunny nature. Her gentle manner and empathy surely soothed those she was helping during disasters or fire and dealing with the loss of their home and property and loved ones. She continues to have an impact as people show up to donate blood or attend events in our community. One organization said they like Louise out front because she draws people in! Louise has mentored young women and still hears from some who were part of the junior miss program. I think Louise is they type of volunteer everyone would like to have with sunny nature and willing to tackle any job put before her.

Louise has lived her whole live in Chautauqua County. She was born in her grandmother’s house in Kennedy and met her husband at Midway State Park skating rink. After they married they settled in Panama where they raised their two daughters. Despite juggling work, a family business and raising children, it seems Louise has always found time to give back to the community through volunteering. She officially retired from paid work four years ago but continues to be an active volunteer for the Red Cross and RSVP. She speaks proudly about her children and seven grandchildren and I am sure has been a great influence on them.

It was a real pleasure to have Louise and her husband Don and their two daughters travel to Albany for this event. We are so proud of the work that seniors do and how much they give to our County. We are truly blessed to have such capable and committed people, willing to give their time and their talents. If you see Louise Long, let her know she is one of Chautauqua Seniors shining stars.