Forcier named Senior of the Year

Frank Forcier, 70, was the top vote getter in the 43rd annual award.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140529/NEWS02/705299904

Senior Citizen of the year Julia Kiniry crowns this years Senior Citizen of the Year Frank Forcier at todays ceremonies at the Springfield Senior Center with several of the past Senior Citizen of the year winners. Photo: LEN EMERYPublished May 29, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Forcier named Senior of the Year By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — A year ago, Frank Forcier serenaded Julie Kiniry, with a witty ditty about her attributes when she was named Senior of the Year in Springfield. This year, Forcier was honored himself “I could sing, ‘I Did It My Way,’” Forcier joked. Forcier, 70, of Springfield, was the top vote getter in the 43rd annual award. The award was started by former Senior Center Director Eleanor Hilliard in the belief that people should collect their accolades while living, not dead, said Terri Emerson, director. Forcier, a retired structural engineer with Dufresne-Henry Inc. and later, Stantec, has made a name for himself among the active senior center in Springfield as the director of Senior Songsters, the center’s singing group. Forcier said he has long been musical. Since joining the senior center when he retired in 2010, Forcier has taken over the Senior Songsters’ directorship from his predecessor, Kiniry. He only recently retired from the Springfield Community Chorus, where he had been a member for more than 40 years. And he’s also the director of the choir at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Springfield. His musical roots go far back — to his undergraduate years at Notre Dame, where he was in the marching band and played the baritone horn. “It was all guys when I was there,” Forcier said. Emerson, in announcing Forcier’s election as the top senior, called him “an immensely talented guy with a huge commitment to our center. He’s totally fair, a fine, respected leader and will get the best out of people.” Emerson said that he has expanded the performance schedule of the Songsters to include additional nursing homes, day care centers and assisted-living facilities, and has incorporated additional instrument accompaniment. “He spends a lot of time selecting the music, acquiring new music and arranging the music in everyone’s songbook,” she said. “He accomplishes much when he undertakes any project and he is an excellent role model both at the center and in his personal life,” Emerson said. Kiniry crowned Forcier with a gold-lame crown, and he received a boutonniere, as well as a long list of gifts from Springfield-area businesses. Runner-up this year was Mary Gray, and honor-roll awards went to Roger Wheeler and Cathy Buskey. Emerson said 97 members nominated 29 different members for the honors. In all, the center has more than 300 active members, she said.