COVAC held its annual Installation and Awards Dinner at Mountainville Manor on Feb. 7. During the event, the company revealed a new way of identifying top responders.
In the past the list included the people who answered the most calls for assistance. This year the yardstick was different. The top responder list was based on hours of service.
Some of the volunteers compiled remarkable totals. Nine of them devoted more than 10 hours a week to the ambulance corps. Robert Galvin, who topped the list, went way above that. If you divide his yearly total by 52, you get an average of almost 55 hours a week.
“It was actually more than that,” he admitted modestly. “There were a few weeks when I was on vacation.”
During the evening, President Kristen Sebesta Boyle offered a few reasons why people are so dedicated. “This is not just a place where we volunteer,” she said of the organization. “It’s a family. When one of us hurts all of us hurt.”
The company president said she became a volunteer because of her father. “He’s the reason I’m an EMT,” she told the audience. “I was so proud of him helping others, it made me want to help other people, too.”
Her father, Paul W. Sebesta, died on Jan. 29 at the age of 81.
The volunteer ambulance corps has been serving Cornwall for 60 years. Deputy Town Supervisor Jim McGee swore in the officers for 2015. Jack Boyle served as master of ceremonies.
Operational officers: Sean Boyle (chief), Joseph Reardon (assistant chief), Caitlin Masopust (captain), Jonathan Kapczak (lieutenant).
Administration: Kristen Sebesta Boyle (president), John Conroy (vice president), Paula Sebesta (treasurer), Samantha Crosbie (secretary)
Awards: Tyler Huff (Officers Award), Nicholas Chouairi (Rookie of the Year), Robert Galvin (Volunteer of the Year).
Top responders (hrs): Robert Galvin 2,844, Sean Boyle 1,828, John Conroy 1,809, Samantha Crosbie 1,344, Tyler Huff 1,191, Joseph Reardon 979, John Scharfenberg 776, Caitlin Masopust 601, Jonathan Kapczak 560, Donald Bounty 470.
