Julie Kiniry named 2013 Senior of the Year

Julie Kiniry loves to sing, so it was only fitting that a special song “Julie,” was composed for her to celebrate her election Wednesday as Springfield’s Senior of the Year.

Julie Kiniry named 2013 Senior of the Year

Julie Kiniry, of Springfield, left, was named 2013 Senior of the Year at the Springfield Senior Center on Wednesday. Frank Forcier, right, was named runner-up. Forcier, who is co-director with Kiniry of the Senior Songsters, composed a song in her honor, “Julie.” Photo: Susan Smallheer / STAFF PHOTO Published May 30, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Julie Kiniry named 2013 Senior of the Year By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Julie Kiniry loves to sing, so it was only fitting that a special song “Julie,” was composed for her to celebrate her election Wednesday as Springfield’s Senior of the Year. Kiniry, 87, of Springfield, was serenaded by her co-director of the Senior Songsters, Frank Forcier, who composed the song to the tune of the Broadway hit “Mame.” “We’re here today to honor a gal, Julie To most of us she’s surely a pal, Julie. She’s been a force in the Songsters for years with Ira, Lou and Bob, We’re glad she kept things going and still is doing quite a job. You know how to rev up a crowd, Julie. You make your daughter, Kim, so proud, Julie. You’re always happy to take those special bus trips far and wide, You make us feel alive again. So we name you with pride, again, Twenty Thirteen Senior of the year, Julie, Julie, Julie,” Forcier sang. The song brought tears to the eyes of Kiniry, and her youngest daughter Kim, with whom she makes her home. Forcier was elected runner-up to Kiniry, and other seniors named to the honor roll were Isabella Erickson, Mary Gray, Cathy Buskey, and Jackie Stankevich. The Springfield Senior Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Director Terri Emerson paid tribute Wednesday to the center’s founder, Eleanor Hilliard, who died last year, as well as many past and current seniors of the year. About a dozen former honorees were on hand for the annual event. Kiniry, a Springfield native and graduate of Springfield High School, said she first started coming to the senior center to teach a strength training class. And then she heard the Songsters, and decided to join. In Springfield, members of the senior center elect the senior of the year, Emerson explained, and she quoted from Kiniry’s nominating votes in her tribute. “Julie is such a sweet spirit and active, friendly to all,” Emerson read. “Julie has done so much for the Senior Songsters over the years. She has a wonderful way about her and she deserves this recognition.” “She believes music is the universal language of friendship!” the tribute included. Kiniry said Emerson had asked her to attend Wednesday’s session because she wanted her and Erickson, a noted pianist, to perform their duet, “Accentuate the Positive,” for the senior of the year program. They had performed the song earlier in the month during a senior talent contest. Accentuating the positive is a theme at the center, Kiniry said. In addition to a tiara, Kiniry received a corsage, and gifts from Springfield area businesses. Kiniry, a retired state social work supervisor, and her late husband Francis Kiniry, are the parents of four children — a son and three daughters, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “I never had any idea that I had won,” said Kiniry, as she collected kisses and hugs from well wishers.