County Executive Ken Jenkins Announces 44th Annual Senior Hall of Fame Celebration
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins is proud to announce that the achievements of 61 senior citizens from throughout the County will be honored at the 44th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards Celebration on Friday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY. This year’s program will present Muriel Conway of Ossining and Rita C. Mabli of New Rochelle with top honors, and will also honor 59 additional seniors across 29 municipalities and hamlets. As part of this year’s event, Mae Carpenter, former Commissioner of the Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS), will be honored with the Pioneer In Aging Services Award.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “I am honored to recognize and celebrate this year’s outstanding group of seniors being inducted into the Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. This annual celebration is an opportunity to recognize the remarkable contributions our older adults make to their communities and to Westchester County as a whole. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as we also honor former Commissioner Mae Carpenter with the Pioneer In Aging Services Award, recognizing her longstanding commitment and significant contributions to improving the lives of older adults throughout Westchester County. The dedication, accomplishments and service demonstrated by this year’s honorees are truly inspiring, and I look forward to celebrating with you all in person on Friday, December 4.”
Acting Commissioner of DSPS Randolf Scott said: “We are pleased to return to the Westchester Marriott for this year’s Senior Hall of Fame celebration, where we will honor an exceptional group of individuals whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a meaningful difference throughout Westchester County. The Class of 2026 honorees have enriched the lives of countless residents, strengthened our communities, and helped make Westchester County an even better place to live.”
The Senior Hall of Fame began as part of the 300th Anniversary of Westchester County's founding to showcase how seniors have contributed to building the County. Over the past 44 years, nearly 1,800 seniors have been inducted. To be nominated, seniors must have made significant and enduring contributions to enhance Westchester's quality of life through their professional work, volunteer achievements, or both. Nominations are made from community members and a panel of judges selects the honorees.
Among this year's honorees, four seniors will receive Distinguished Honoree: Sharon Griest Ballen of Scarsdale, Edward Doty of Pelham, Dr. Suzanne D. Phillips of Elmsford, and Hon. Valerie Simmons of White Plains.
The 44th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards will be hosted by DSPS, Westchester Parks, Recreation and Conservation, and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.
This year's event is sponsored by: Annual Sponsor – NewYork-Presbyterian; Gold Sponsor – United Hebrew.
Tickets, sponsorships and congratulatory journal ads are available for purchase for the 44th Annual Senior Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon. To purchase a ticket, sponsorship or congratulatory ad honoring one of this year’s honorees, please visit www.westchesterpartnership.org/hall-of-fame/ or contact Jill Sommer Stern at
Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2026
Pioneer In Aging Services Award Honoree: Mae Carpenter
Mae Carpenter is a nationally recognized leader and advocate in the field of aging, who for more than five decades has been dedicated to improving the lives of older adults, strengthening communities, and advancing the cause of aging with dignity, independence, and purpose. Carpenter served as Director of Westchester County’s Office for the Aging beginning in 1979 and was appointed Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) in 2001. Under her leadership, DSPS became widely recognized for innovation, advocacy, and forward-thinking approaches to serving older adults.
A visionary in the field of aging, Carpenter spearheaded Livable Communities: A Vision for All Ages – Bringing People and Places Together, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help people grow up and grow older with dignity, independence, and meaningful connection to their communities. The initiative produced nationally and internationally recognized programs, including TIPS (Telehealth Intervention Program for Seniors) and the Next Stage Network. Westchester County was also among the first seven communities nationwide selected for the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.
Carpenter also founded the Westchester Public/Private Membership Fund for Aging Services (WPPP) in 1990, creating an important public-private partnership dedicated to expanding and enhancing services for older adults throughout Westchester County. Her legacy can be seen in the programs she created, the policies she helped advance, the communities she helped transform, and, most importantly, in the countless older adults whose lives have been enriched by her work.
Top Honors: Muriel Conway, Ossining
Muriel Conway serves as a Disaster Action Team Supervisor for the American Red Cross, where she has dedicated more than 16,000 volunteer hours over 10 years of service to helping Westchester residents during times of tragedy. As a Disaster Action Team Supervisor, Conway responds to fires and other emergencies, providing displaced individuals and families with compassionate support, guidance, emergency resources, and assistance in finding temporary lodging. In addition to assisting survivors, Conway mentors newer colleagues, monitors team safety, and connects with officials. Beyond her service at the American Red Cross, Conway actively volunteers with the Ossining Food Pantry and the gardens committee with her condo association.
Top Honors: Rita C. Mabli, New Rochelle
Rita C. Mabli has helped shape how older adults live and receive care in Westchester County for nearly 50 years. Joining United Hebrew in 1976 and later becoming its first female CEO and President, Mabli transformed a modest home for older adults into a comprehensive senior living and healthcare campus serving the changing needs of Westchester seniors. Under her leadership, United Hebrew expanded beyond skilled nursing to include rehabilitation, assisted living, affordable senior housing, home health services, dementia care, and Willow Gardens, which is Westchester’s first assisted living residence dedicated to caring for people with memory impairment. Mabli has served on the board of the Westchester County Public Private Partnership for Aging Services, co-chaired the Westchester County Association’s Healthcare Consortium, and was elected to the Westchester County Association’s Board of Directors.
Distinguished Honoree: Sharon Griest Ballen, Scarsdale
Sharon Griest Ballen has been a dedicated member of the Westchester County community, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to volunteerism, advocacy, and community strengthening. As Chair of the Prison Relations Advisory Committee for the Town of Bedford, Ballen interfaces with the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision as well as the Superintendent of the Bedford Hills Women’s Prison, which has led to successful collaborations such as soaps and fans being distributed to the women at the prison during the summer months. As a board member of the Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, she has helped individuals with disabilities, veterans, at-risk youth, and others reach their potential despite their circumstances. In addition, Ballen is also the Clerk of Session at the Katonah Presbyterian Church and an active member of the Katonah Thrift Shop as their Finance Manager.
Distinguished Honoree: Edward Doty, Pelham
Edward Doty is the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Services Opportunity Project (YSOP), a nonprofit organization that connects students with meaningful service opportunities with vulnerable populations. After YSOP’s New York City office closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Doty reorganized the organization as YSOP Connex, based in Pelham, and focused on connecting students with senior citizens, many of whom are members of the Pelham Senior Citizens Club. A strong advocate for older adults, Doty has worked to advance better transportation, food security, and healthcare for seniors. He has also advocated for improvements to Pelham's town-owned facilities, including better acoustics in Town House to improve accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments and moving Town Hall offices to the first floor to make them more accessible to those who have difficulty navigating stairs.
Distinguished Honoree: Dr. Suzanne D. Phillips, Elmsford
Dr. Suzanne D. Phillips is an institution builder who has shaped park and recreation policy, created nonviolence programming around Dr. King’s Beloved Community, organized faith-based health and wellness initiatives, strengthened neighborhood governance and scholarships, and has consistently advanced educational equity. Dr. Phillips is President of the Greenburgh/White Plains Chapter of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, where she proudly represents and supports the majority of Westchester’s elected African American women while also advancing civic leadership, mentorship, and community engagement. In higher education, Dr. Phillips worked at Cheyney University and SUNY Rockland Community College, where she strengthened student success, expanded mental health and basic-needs support, created workforce partnerships, and closed equity gaps.
Distinguished Honoree: Hon. Valerie Simmons, White Plains
Valerie Simmons is a lifelong public servant who has spent more than five decades removing barriers between people and the institutions meant to serve them. Simmons began as a VISTA volunteer, where she helped faith communities navigate urban-renewal programs, connected families to services and legal aid, and helped mobilize support for the creation of the Thomas H. Slater Center. During her 36 years with the White Plains Housing Authority, she became a trusted resident advocate, managed public housing, resolved resident concerns, and helped people navigate systems that felt inaccessible. Simmons is a White Plains Councilwoman, a former President of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus Greenburgh-White Plains Chapter, and former President of the Westchester Coalition for Black Trade Unionists.
Westchester County Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2026
Bedford Corners – Christine “Tina” P. Foster
Bedford Hills – Jerretha Jones, Theresa McNair
Briarcliff Manor – Karen Kotter Smith
Cross River – Hon. Susan C. Simon
Croton-on-Hudson – Robert “Bob” Anderson
Eastchester – Joseph “Joe” Rodriguez
Elmsford – ** Dr. Suzanne D. Phillips
Harrison – Michael “Mike” Masciola, Martin Rogowsky
Hastings-on-Hudson – Valerie Harmon, Janet Elizabeth Lokay
Irvington – Kay O’Keeffe
Katonah – Barbara Berardino
Larchmont – Patricia Allen, John D. McGarr
Millwood – Anna Maria Schapiro
Mount Kisco – Tammy Brown, ****, Ann Lakin
Mount Vernon – Mae Carpenter, Rev. Dana Davis Rose, Rev. Joyce Somerville, Curtis James Woods
New Rochelle – Doretha Melassa Anderson, *** Rita C. Mabli, Dr. Marc Douglas Wager
North Salem – Janice Hellwinkel, William A. Monti, Silvano “Sal” Pantezzi, Karen A. Roach
Ossining – *** Muriel Conway
Pelham – ** Edward Doty
Pleasantville – Jean Nonna
Port Chester – Livia Marcela Kissner
Scarsdale – ** Sharon Griest Ballen, Gary Katz
Sleepy Hollow – John “Jack” Philip McLaughlin, Theda “Teddy” Pulerwitz
Thornwood – Patricia Puleo
Tuckahoe – Michael B. Collins, Carmela Del Vecchio, Darryl L. Taylor
Valhalla – John J. Creskey, Ralph Nicoletti Jr.
White Plains – Vera G.H. Allen, Patricia A. Keegan, Wendy Leibowitz, Helena Wynn McIntosh, Joseph Mosley, ** Hon. Valerie Simmons, Brenda Tucker, Patricia D. White
Yonkers – John Ethan Baer, Laura Bova, Andrea Brown, Monica Keane, Mary Ann Riordan
Yorktown Heights – Linda “Lynn” Briggs, Armand Grasso, Anthony E. Guiliano, Brian Sillik
**** Pioneer In Aging Services
*** Top Honors
** Distinguished Honoree
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