A retired radiation oncologist who founded a program to treat cancer patients at no charge, the first female and African-American to chair Westchester County’s Board of Legislators, and a visiting nurse agency that serves Westchester residents exclusively were honored at the 19th annual Golden Harvest Awards breakfast at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown on Oct. 7.
The prestigious awards are presented by the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services to recognize outstanding and lasting contributions by individuals and corporations to Westchester seniors.
The partnership is a coalition of government, business and voluntary service agencies that develop resources and services so seniors can remain independent and active members of the community.
Former County Legislator Lois Bronz, who had represented District 8, which covers Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and Greenburgh, received the Jim Curran Leadership Award. Bronz was the first woman and the first legislator of African descent to chair the board, and she is proudest of her leadership that helped to pass the landmark legislation that created the Westchester County Human Rights Commission.
She also served on the board’s Task Force on Families, which addresses issues such as child abuse, domestic violence and childhood trauma in violent homes. In addition, she has been a strong supporter for the county’s purchase of open spaces and parks and has consistently advocated for affordable housing and adult day care.
Dr. Arnold M. Wald, the founder of Rye Radiology and a radiation oncologist for 40 years, received the Humanitarian Award. Dr. Wald has treated thousands of cancer patients during his long career -- and was probably ahead of his time in realizing that his patients needed more than medical care -- they also needed help to cope with the practical and emotional challenges of their daily lives and people to answer their questions.
So in 1978 he co-founded the nonprofit Cancer Support Team – also known as CST – which today is based in Mamaroneck and was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1983. CST provides in-home professional nursing, counseling, education, social work and other supportive services to cancer patients and their families in lower Westchester.
CST is also the only Westchester-based home-care program licensed by the New York State Department of Health that provides free services without regard to insurance coverage. Wald received top honors at the 2008 Senior Hall of Fame, which is co-sponsored by the county’s Department of Senior Programs and Services and Westchester County Parks.
Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester (VNSW) received the Corporate Award, which was accepted by Carol Weber, its president and chief executive officer.
VNSW was founded in 1901. It is a not-for-profit Medicare-certified home health care agency that exclusively serves Westchester residents of all ages, their families and caregivers. It is the largest not-for-profit certified home health agency in the county, and its services exceed the National Standards of Excellence for home care’s community health accreditation program.
The agency provides include skilled nursing care; physical, occupational and speech therapy; home health aide services; medical social work services and community health education programs.