Two area women honored with award

Story and Photo
by Karen Blake

     Family and friends joined members of the Gowanda Business and Professional Women at a reception Monday evening as long-time community volunteers Irvine Gaffney and Ann Tolman each became the club’s 2004 “Woman of the Year.”

     Gowanda Business and Professional Women President Peggy Taylor presented the distinctive silver-and-gold-framed Certificate of Achievement awards - the “Woman of the Year” - to Gaffney and Tolman in recognition of their enthusiasm, dedication and outstanding support of the community, and being role models to women.

     They were described as the “wonderful ladies,” involved in many community activities; in particular, volunteering their time and working hard to make the Gowanda Historical Museum a source of community pride. Fellow volunteers said “Irvine and Ann do an outstanding job of preserving collections, organizing and displaying exhibits, and helping genealogists and young historians find artifacts and information they need.”

     Friends and associates of Gaffney and Tolman stated the women “personify the kind of steady dedication that is the backbone of any volunteer organization.”

     Irene Koch, speaking on behalf of the Gowanda Historical Society, said how Gaffney and Tolman are “a special pair, whether working together or separately,” noting they are “the mainstay of Historical Society operations - always doing what needs to be done.” Koch noted how Tolman “makes the past come alive” for area schoolchildren, and Gaffney’s “pleasant and compatible manner” is so helpful to visitors to the museum.

     Town of Perrysburg Historian Jody Shaw remarked that Gaffney and Tolman are “great friends who work off each other,” combining their vast knowledge of local history. Gaffney is also the Town of Collins historian.

     A letter from Mary Pankow, editor of the Gowanda PennySaver/News, gratefully acknowledged the assistance of the “two wonderful ladies” in helping her research the “Millennium” and “Reflections” series for the newspaper. Pankow stated their efforts and willingness to help “keep Gowanda’s past alive for future generations to enjoy.”

     Tolman and Gaffney expressed their thanks to everyone, and said they “were very surprised and very pleased” to receive the awards.

     The support of the “men” behind the “Women of the Year” was also recognized. Peggy Fairbanks also credits Tolman’s husband, Don, with quietly helping out at the museum, fixing things and who, she said, “helps keep the museum going.” She related how Richard Gaffney does the cooking when his wife is busy, is very supportive, and is the person to go to for help with the computer.

     Noting this was the “47th” Woman of the Year celebration, flowers were presented to past recipients of the award, and candles were lit in a memorial service in remembrance of departed members of the Gowanda Business and Professional Women.

     The evening’s program included guest speaker Pat Brininger, director of marketing for the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnez Center in Jamestown. Along with telling the fascinating story of the movie and television career of “Jamestown’s most popular daughter,” Brininger spoke about how “volunteering is the key to every aspect in a community.” She said, “Volunteering is about giving back” - and that “Lucy” is still giving the gift of her humor to the whole world, and her children are giving back to her hometown by supporting the Lucy-Desi Museum and other community efforts.