OCCA CONSERVATIONISTS OF THE YEAR, 1989 TO PRESENT

1989 – Frederick V. Mecklenburg, for environmental leadership through the founding of the Otsego County Conservation Association.

1990 – Ellen Luchsinger, in recognition of her many efforts for the enhancement of conservation in our region and for outstanding contributions to OCCA.

1991 – Martha Clarvoe, president of the Cooperstown League of Women Voters for her vigorous and untiring efforts in expanding recycling opportunities in Otsego County.  As a result of her initiative, previously discarded slicks, inserts and envelopes are now accepted by MOSA for recycling.

1992 – Irene Mozolewski, for her unflagging interest in environmental issues. Vigilantly ensured that protecting our natural resources was considered in land-use planning and tourism promotion.

1993 – Rufus Thayer, for a lifetime of activities which have directly followed the tenets of the OCCA mission statement.  Funded undergraduate student stipends; promoted environmental education as an active voice of concern on the lake.  Committed 100 acres of hillside near lake to National Wildlife Federation and set aside 302 acres of land atop Rum Hill as land that can never be developed.  Simple lifestyle exemplifying low impact land stewardship.

1994 – Giles Russell, for his work with the Village of Cooperstown Advanced Planning Committee, particularly, and his concern regarding uncontrolled development.

1995 – William Gengenbach, for 25 years of work dedicated to conservation and education; preservation of farmland through preservation of farming itself; promotion of greenbelts and preservation of rural character; promotion of best management practices  (crop and pasture rotation, intensive grass management to prevent erosion and proper fencing); established Master Gardeners program to train volunteers to answer questions on gardening.

1996 – Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, who almost single-handedly turned the tide of anti-environmental legislation sweeping through the House of Representatives.  This tide would have swept with it 25 years of environmental protection.  Rep. Boehlert managed to convince his colleagues the American people wanted these protections after all.

1997 – Bonnie Canning Hofmann, for her tireless and selfless work to make OCCA a viable, county-wide environmental organization with a broad mission and definite goals. 

1998 – Otsego Lake Watershed Council, for drafting of Plan for the Management of the Otsego Lake Watershed.

1999 – Earle Peterson , president of the Otsego Land Trust, for donating nearly 1,200 acres of land in the Town of Burlington – Greenwoods Conservancy – now permanently protected from development and serving as an educational, visual, and environmental resource.

2000 – Moira Goldfarb and Thomas Gergel, co-chairs of Oneonta-Susquehanna Greenway Steering Committee.  Under their leadership, a dream a quarter century in the making got underway.

2001 – John Davis, for his lifelong interest in the natural world, especially that of birds; his involvement in the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society and his activism in a number of local environmental and municipal planning issues since his 1995 retirement from his position as a physician at Basset Hospital.

2002 – Otsego County Burn Barrel Education Committee (Mary Ashwood, Chair; Kathy Abernathy, Gayle Austin, Arthur Clarke, Martha Clarvoe, MaryLou Ganio, John May, Ferd Thering, Dick Thompson), for education and legislative advocacy efforts regarding the health risks of outdoor burning.

2003 – Harry Levine, for leadership in citizen involvement regarding land-use planning.

2004 – Nina Hart, Joe Hart, William Brosseau, for two years’ effort compiling “Otsego Walks & Paddles,”  an area trails guide for low-impact use. 

2005 – Patricia Riddell Kent and Steven Kent, for the donation of 1,036 acres, now designated as The Robert V. Riddell State Park.

2006 – Ted Peters, for 30 years of water quality stewardship applied in the Otsego Lake watershed.

2007 – Edward Lentz,  for his actions both local and regional regarding global warming; founding of Sustainable Working Group to raise public awareness about global warming and encourage sustainable lifestyles.

2008 – Henry Kernan, for a lifetime devoted to forestry stewardship, advocacy and education.