Honor Anita Williams Peck

21, 2019 WHEREAS, Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the increasingly active roles they play in today's society; their past contributions and future participation are a vital part of, and valuable asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Anita Williams Peck posthumously upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the New York State Office for the Aging at its Annual Older New Yorkers Day Celebration on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the Hart Theatre Lounge in The Egg, Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, Each May, the New York State Office for the Aging pauses to acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by older citizens during National Older Americans Month; and WHEREAS, Members of older generations have helped build and shape our Nation to be the greatest in the world; they have defended our freedoms and values to ensure that those who come after them may have better lives; nowhere in the Nation is the legacy of their efforts more visible and more a part of the lives of all citizens than here in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck continually demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent leadership in her unwavering service to her community and, consequently, has been selected for this most prestigious honor; and WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck was born in Kingston, New York, on June

5, 1940, and grew up in Rosendale at Williams Lake, the family resort that her Finnish immigrant grandfather founded in 1929; and WHEREAS, She was a graduate of Kingston High School and the University of Vermont, and also studied at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland; and WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck was the loving mother of Theodore Peck V and Jennifer Patton, and the proud grandmother of Alexa Peck; and WHEREAS, Beginning in 1965, together with her parents, Anita helped operate the family business, the legendary Williams Lake Hotel, a year round family resort; she took over sole management of the hotel and resort in 1987, when her father died; and WHEREAS, An extremely successful businesswoman and passionate about her community, Anita Williams Peck extended genuine kindness and gracious hospitality to everyone she encountered; and WHEREAS, During her many years at Williams Lake, Anita Williams Peck helped create countless memories for vacationers, beach club members, and others in the community, while providing year-round employment for hundreds of local residents, and summer jobs for area youth; and WHEREAS, While managing Williams Lake, Anita Williams Peck was an incredible environmental steward, preserving over 400 ecologically sensitive acres, ensuring the land will remain forever-wild, aiding in preservation of sensitive wildlife habit and protecting endangered species; and WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck was renowned in Ulster County and the Hudson Valley for her countless hours of volunteerism with literally dozens of non-profit organizations that included local libraries, local schools, health organizations, chambers of commerce, historical sites, children's agencies, the Rosendale Theatre, SKAL international - the largest tourism organization in the world, and over 56 years at the Junior League of Kingston. WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck served as both a member and as President of the Rondout Valley Central School Board, and was a member of the Ulster County School Board Association; and WHEREAS, This amazing woman was also a board member of the Ulster County Community College Foundation, where she recently completed her third term as Chair; and WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck endowed the Anita Williams Peck High School Public Speaking Competition, now in its ninth year at the college; she also was an inaugural donor to the SUNY Ulster President's Challenge Scholarship, which helps Rondout Valley High School students to be the first in their family to attend college; and WHEREAS, Upon her passing on January 26, 2019, many people asked her daughter "What can I do?"; Jennifer's simple and telling response was always "Be like Anita"; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals for the benefit of others which Anita Williams Peck displayed throughout her life; and WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck enriched the lives of her family, friends and colleagues through her love and respect for others, and through the wisdom which comes from many years of living life to the fullest; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Anita Williams Peck posthumously upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the New York State Office for the Aging on May 21, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Anita Williams Peck.