“Dr. Robert Berke was honored for his many and profound efforts to promote YMCA Camp Onyahsa, especially through the Big Fish Triathlon that empowers our Youth with Diabetes Camp, which is offered at no cost to local families for Onyahsa,” said Jon O’Brian, Camp Onyahsa director.

Presenting Berke his award was John Barber, Jamestown Area YMCA CEO, and O’Brian.

“This year the Jamestown YMCA is proud to recognize Dr. Robert Berke with the Paul B. Sullivan Lifetime Service Award for his leadership, expertise and dedication to a special opportunity at Camp Onyahsa dedicated to serving youth with Diabetes, called ‘Camp Yowidica.’ Since 2016, Camp Onyahsa has hosted this special week of camp with Dr. Berke’s medical guidance and his leadership spearheading the Big Fish Triathlon which raises the annual funds needed to offer this specialized camp,” Barber said.

Barber talked about how children who are physically challenged may not always be afforded the same recreational and growing opportunities as children who are not challenged.

From left, Dr. Robert Berke is honored Saturday at YMCA Camp Onyahsa at a fundraising party while John Barber, YMCA CEO, holds Berke’s award. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

“For youth living with childhood diabetes the idea of going away to camp for a week would likely be impossible apart from Dr. Berke’s leadership, dedication and expertise. A medical team that includes nurses, dieticians, and counselors are equipped with the latest in insulin monitoring, so that every child attending Camp Yowidica is able to fully participate in resident camp, while also having twenty-four, seven, professional care that parents can trust,” he said. “Children living with diabetes can miss the opportunity to even spend an overnight with a friend, let alone attend several days/nights at a resident camp far away from home. Camp Yowidica makes camp memories a reality for these children, and also provides a special opportunity for children to enjoy time connecting and learning alongside similar peers, so that they all can improve how they live with the challenges of youth diabetes. Without Dr. Berke’s dedication to raising the funds needed to host this specialized camp and his expertise in structuring the experience of this camp would not be possible. Dr. Berke’s dedication to Camp Yowidica exemplifies the YMCA’s focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility and has helped the Jamestown Area YMCA provide just one more example of how the YMCA is for all.”

Berke said he owed a lot of his successes to his family and surrounding himself with groups of people who act as a highly functioning team.

“Surrounding yourself with groups of employees, volunteers and staff members who work together as a highly functioning team is a key component to success,” he said. “Your team must be able to make decisions -right or wrong- learn and grow as a team. Having a highly functioning team in your corner is the most important ingredient to success.”

While Father Time is catching up with the doctor, age doesn’t seem to have slowed Berke down in the least.

“I’m 80 years old and I live a healthy vibrant life,” said Berke. “I still work and exercise everyday. I also still help with raising money for organizations and groups I support. My next project is to help the camp expand its programming – to include more campers that have special needs.”

To help offset the cost of the camp’s tuition, the camp’s fundraising steering committee acted as a highly functioning team- as evident by the amount of money it was able to raise from this singular event.

Alyssa Raimondo-Swanson, YMCA Camp Onyahsa administrator, said the fundraiser event hosted 85 guests, approximately $24,000. Additionally, she said the event awarded $5,000 worth of cash prizes, and 17 themed gift baskets were given away. Sponsors include Univera Healthcare, Dawson Metal Company/Dawson Doors, Spectrum Eyecare, The Legend Group (Ryan Deppas and Nathan Slate), Summit Wealth Management, and Bag & String Wine Merchants. Donations were received from Mallary Dawson, Arthur R. Gren Co., Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce & Garden Center, Maplevale Farms, and Brown Hat Productions. Basket donors included Cadwell’s Cheese House, The Chautauqua Belle, Good Neighbor Bookstore, Lakeside Apparel, Mirage Salon (stylist Amanda Holmes), T.W. Biggins Wine & Spirits; Bill Larson, Amy Mullen, Judy Briggs, Sandy Calalesina, Mary Glatz, Kurt and Marge Gustafson, Ashley Querrieo, Matt Schutte, Kris Seastedt, Judi Swanson and Bill Thomas.