PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2009
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BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR: J. GORDON HUSZAGH
During the worst recession in recent history, Suffolk County National Bank president and Jamesport resident J. Gordon Huszagh has accomplished something most would consider to be no small feat — leading a profitable bank.
Mr. Huszagh's colleagues say it's due in part to his leadership that the Riverhead-based bank was able to stay afloat as many other financial institutions went belly-up.
For that reason, coupled with his dedication to the local community — especially Peconic Bay Medical Center — the Riverhead News-Review names J. Gordon Huszagh its 2009 Business Person of the Year.
Douglas Shaw, the senior vice president of Suffolk County National Bank, who has worked alongside Mr. Huszagh for nearly 25 years, said his colleague deserved the award because of his commitment to sound business practices and making rational decisions.
“He is a very level-headed, straightforward individual who looks at a situation, assesses it and looks at what needs to be done,” he said.
Mr. Shaw said that it was Mr. Huszagh's philosophy of “sticking to your knitting” that helped the bank remain profitable during difficult economic times.
“There were a number of other banking institutions that tried out all sorts of exotic things,” he said, noting that many have since failed.
Mr. Shaw could not release the bank's numbers for 2009, but said that as of last September it has been operating in the black and that it was the third most profitable community bank in the country from 2006 through 2008.
Mr. Huszagh is also a community-service-minded man. He has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity and served on the Peconic Bay Medical Center board of directors for the past 18 years. He currently serves as the chairman of the Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation, which oversees the hospital's fundraising efforts.
Andrew J. Mitchell, the president and CEO of Peconic Bay Medical Center, credited Mr. Huszagh with the foundation's successful $10 million campaign that enabled the hospital to open its state-of-the-art surgical pavilion last year.
Mr. Mitchell said Mr. Huszagh was extremely dedicated to the board's vision for the medical center, and has often said that the hospital was the community's most important aspect.
“I think Gordon's leadership was absolutely instrumental in transforming the medical center into what it has become over the last few years,” Mr. Mitchell said.
James Farrell, who also sits on the hospital's board seconded that notion.
“They beat their expectation during a really gray time for people raising funds,” Mr. Farrell said of the foundation.
Mr. Farrell, who nominated Mr. Huszagh for the award, said that the foundation's chairperson is a modest man, one who doesn't try to keep the attention on himself during board meetings. He described Mr. Huszagh as less verbose than some of the other board members, but added that when he speaks, people listen.
vchinese@timesreview.com
PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR: BARBARA GRATTAN
The Riverhead News-Review's choice for Public Servant of the Year is a posthumous one, recognizing a longtime Riverhead Town official who was beloved by everyone who knew her.
Barbara Grattan, who died last April, had been Riverhead's town clerk since 1991 before illness forced her to resign early in 2009. At her wake people were lined up around the block to pay their respects.
“The line at her funeral was stretched down the road,” said current Town Clerk Diane Wilhelm. “I don't believe I've ever seen one with so many people.”
Ms. Wilhelm, who worked under Ms. Grattan for nine years, said of her selection as Public Servant of the Year: “I think that's an excellent choice and a tremendous honor. She served the public for so many years and was well liked by everyone.”
When Ms. Grattan submitted her resignation early last year, then-Town Councilwoman Barbara Blass had to fight back tears just voting on the town resolution accepting it.
“This is a very difficult vote,” Ms. Blass said at the time. “Barbara has always been very professional and personable over the years and has discharged the duties and responsibilities of the clerk with care and class.”
Not much argument there.
“She was friends with everybody,” Ms. Wilhelm said. “Everybody who walked in that door was her friend and she treated everyone fairly. It was always a pleasure for me to come to work. It was like working with family.”
“She treated every single person like they were a king or queen,” said former Councilman Ed Densieski. “She was the epitome of an excellent public servant and I miss her dearly.”
Mr. Densieski recalled how he and Ms. Grattan would pass notes back and forth during Town Board work sessions, which often got lengthy.
“We had a lot of fun,” he said. “I really miss her.”
Ms. Wilhelm said that even months after Ms. Grattan died people would still come to the Town Clerk's office to offer their condolences and to say how much they missed her.
“I can't think of a better person for this award,” Mr. Densieski said.
tgannon@timesreview.com
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2 comments found
Barbara Grattan : 1/19/2010
She is deeply missed by Will and Mary Jackson. She was such a kind, gentle, and happy person. It was always a pleasure to walk into the town clerks office because you knew that she treated people with respect and dignity. It didn't matter that your monetary background you came from was poor or well to do or your ethnic color and if you were German, Polish, Lithuanian ... Any way you get the picture. No boundary marker in her eyes!
Barbara Grattan : 1/7/2010
Barbara Grattan probably deserves the "Public Servant of the Year" designation more than any other winner since the award's inception.
Her too early passing marks the end of an era in Riverhead, which was still in transition from a farm community when she took office.
Like her predecessor, Irene Pendzick, she was the face of Town government to the people.
She and her husband, retired Police Chief Grattan,
formed a public service team which will probably never be seen again.
As you wrote, she was "beloved by all who knew her." That says it all.
Riverhead is lucky to have had such people.
Let's hope our luck holds.
Brad Berthold
