Springfield Center honors its Senior Citizen of the Year

Elizabeth Moulton, Denis Menard, Mimi Amsden and Don Gray were all honored at the Springfield Senior Center's annual Senior of the Year awards ceremony on Wednesday in Springfield. (Photo by Heather Hall)


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Gray named Senior of the Year in Springfield

The Springfield Senior Center gathered Wednesday to honor Donald Gray, who won the honor of Senior of the Year in the center’s annual event. Over a quarter of the seniors’ votes went to Don, who is the 43rd winner of the title. Gray was crowned by Senior Center Executive Director Heather Hall amid the other members of the senior center, including 15 former Seniors of the Year.

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Sunday Seniors: Springfield (Vt.) Center Honors Its Senior Citizen of the Year Elizabeth Moulton, Denis Menard, Mimi Amsden and Don Gray were all honored at the Springfield Senior Center's annual Senior of the Year awards ceremony on Wednesday in Springfield, Vt. (Heather Hall photograph) Previous Next By Liz Sauchelli Valley News Calendar Editor Sunday, June 04, 2017 Print OUT AND ABOUT SUNDAY SENIORS VALLEY CALENDAR RELATED STORIES Out and About columns about things to do in the Upper Valley Valley Calendar Springfield, Vt. — On Mondays, Donald Gray attends pickleball at the Springfield Senior Center. Tuesdays and Thursdays, it’s exercise and pickleball again. Wednesdays are for cribbage. Senior Songsters, the senior center’s singing group, is on Friday. It was Gray’s participation in these events, in addition to his involvement directing plays and all-around helpful actions, that led to him being voted the 46th annual Senior Citizen of the Year by his peers. “It means a lot,” Gray, 68, of Springfield, Vt., said of the honor. He attributed his desire to help, in part, to lessons he learned from his pastor at Springfield United Methodist Church. “If you see something that needs doing, do it,” he said. Gray started attending programs at the senior center when he retired at age 64 after working for various Vermont state departments. Gray was given the award last Wednesday at the senior center during a ceremony presided over by Director Heather Hall, who stood at a lectern; previous winners of the award sat in a semicircle behind her. He was crowned by 2016’s winner, Linda Roy, and escorted to a chair that had a “congratulations” balloon attached to it. Gray sat beside runner-up Michael Wooton and honor roll honorees Elizabeth Moulton, Denis Menard and Mimi Amsden. Winners are not notified in advance, Hall said, so the honor is always a surprise. “They look forward to this every year,” Hall said. “It’s just such a great tradition.” Hall gave a brief speech about each senior who was honored. “He is always willing to help with setting up or cleaning up for senior center programs or to help complete tasks that no one else would like to do,” Hall said in her speech about Gray. “Last summer, Don climbed up a very tall ladder to dust and clean the top of the lights throughout the senior center.” After every name was announced, the audience responded with applause and shouts of joy, indicative of the strong community the senior center provides, Hall said. “It’s really a family here,” she said. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221. 2017-06-01 / Front Page Grey named Senior of the Year in Springfield By KELSEY CHRISTENSEN kchristensen@eagletimes.com Donald Grey receives the crown as Springfield's 2017 Senior of the Year from Linda Roys, who was honored with the award last year, at the Springfield Senior Center Wednesday. — KELSEY CHRISTENSEN SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — The Springfield Senior Center gathered Wednesday to honor Donald Grey, who won the honor of Senior of the Year in the center’s annual event. Over a quarter of the seniors’ votes went to Don, who is the 43rd winner of the title. Grey was crowned by Senior Center Executive Director Heather Hall amid the other members of the senior center, including 15 former Seniors of the Year. Grey has always been an avid participant in the Springfield Community, notable for his longtime and frequent involvement in the Springfield Community Players, of which he is an Angel member. However, just because Grey is a senior now doesn’t mean he’s slowed down: currently, he is directing two plays, one with the center and one with the players. “When I retired, I didn’t think I’d be here with all the old people,” said Grey. “But it’s nice to be one of the young ones.” The center recognized Grey’s participating in cribbage, the senior Songsters, shuffleboard, pickle ball, as well as his consummate willingness to help around the senior center. “He is always willing to help with setting up or cleaning up for Senior Center programs, or to help complete tasks no one else would like to do,” said Hall. “Last summer, Don climbed up a very tall ladder to dust and clean the top of the lights throughout the senior center.” Grey had some suspicions he might be recognized, at least as an Honor Roll member, because he usually plays bridge during Wednesday events at the center, but was urged to skip bridge this time around. “It feels really good to know people appreciate the stuff you do,” Grey said. The center also acknowledged a runner-up Senior of the Year, Michael Wootin, though he unfortunately could not be there to accept his award due to a scheduling conflict. Wootin participates in talent shows, directs variety shows, and works in the ceramics studio at the center, even producing specialty items upon request. “[Wootin’s] tireless efforts to assist with the Songsters is incredible,” read Hall from testimonials compiled from senior center members. “He practices his bass guitar and often provides equipment for the practices and performances.” Three Honor Roll members we also recognized. Elizabeth Moulton, who leads senior strength exercise classes twice a week and serves as the district coordinator for the AARP tax aide program, was recognized for her contributions and her sense of humor and tendency to keep things interesting around the center. Mimi Amsden, who is an AARP tax volunteer as well as a participant in yoga, strength-training class and pickleball, was noted to always have a smile on her face and cheerful disposition. Denis Menard, who chairs the Advisory Committee, was acknowledged for tireless help around the center, like always ensuring cribbage runs smoothly. Eleanor Hilliard began the tradition of distinguishing a senior with the title of Senior of the Year 46 years ago. She believed that, too often, seniors are acknowledged only after they die. “People need to hear their testimonials while they are living,” said Hall. Grey will receive a day trip in honor of his recognition, and all of the Senior of the Year inductees will receive gifts donated from various Springfield businesses including, but not limited to, Woodbury’s Florist, the Springfield Co-op, and the Springfield Pharmacy. Senior of the Year is a day to thank not only a few distinguished members, but to take pride in the success of the senior center as whole. “We have a really active center. We’re always looking for ideas on more events, and listening to people’s ideas,” said Hall. “Everyone knows each other and they do a really good job of supporting each other.” So much so, that for Grey, the senior center is like a second home. “People always ask me why I take my shoes off when I come in the building,” Grey said. “And I say ‘Well, I take my shoes off when I’m at home.’”