The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have by exemplary acts of loyalty, fellowship and service come to represent the highest calling of Pioneering. These members have truly made superior contributions to advancing the purpose and ideals of Pioneering. This honor is bestowed with the utmost respect of the membership.

1992		Bill Elsasser
1993		Anne Kopsky
1994		Joan M. Kaiser
1995		Donna Tranchina
1996		Mary K. Smith
1997		Louise Protosow
1998		Gerrie Fitzpatrick
2000		George Ambrosio
2001		Hank Nowicki
2002		Judy Tharp
2003		John Kaiser
2004		Charlie Coll
2005		Linda Steuerwald
2006		Joe Caruso

Joe Caruso
Joe has been an active Pioneer since 1966. He's held many chairs on the executive board of the Nesconset Life Member Club, including vice president and president. He's currently serving as fundraising chairperson for his club.

Joe is one of the original team members who established the Paumanok Chapter Telephone Museum in 1989 and to this day continues to be an active volunteer. In 1985, he established the first annual summer picnic of his life member club. The event is still held and is very popular with the members.

Joe always has a smile and a kind word for all he comes in contact with. In the last three years, he has played a big part in the chapter’s Living History Program - Freedom Isn’t Free. He goes into local high schools and talks about his career in the Air Force during World War II. Joe works with his partner by his side and is still going strong at 85.

Linda Steuerwald Linda is a much deserving Pioneer. Her manner is quiet and reserved, but she is a powerhouse when it comes to answering the call of those in need. She served a two-year term as chapter president, was president of the Suffolk Council, and has held numerous council and chapter chairs. During her term as president, the chapter was awarded two Project of Excellence Awards for educational projects that included distributing more than 10,000 books in the communities. She has decorated graves at the National Cemetery, packed items to send to overseas troops, visited area shelters, played the role of Mother Goose when needed, spearheaded the seedlings project, ran the Mother's Day plant sales and painted USA Maps, just to mention a few of the projects in which she has been involved. She is a full time working mother of four and includes her entire family in many volunteer projects. Her actions personify what "Fellowship, Loyalty and Service" are all about.

	Charlie Coll Since 1966, Charlie Coll has been involved with talking books, his life member club, nursing homes and local soup kitchens. He has devoted his time repairing talking books, serving on his life member club, assisting at nursing homes and local soup kitchens. He can be found volunteering at the Lemon Street Soup Kitchen where he cooks, cleans, serves and speaks to the clients in their native tongue. Clients have established a trusting relationship with Charlie. Since his involvement with Pioneers he has donated more than 40,000 hours of community service.

John Kaiser

In his 25 years of being a Pioneer John has served on the executive Board of the Suffolk Council as fund raiser for five years, Community service member at large as well as fellowship member at large. On a chapter level on the executive board as fundraiser member at large for 15 years and historical member at large. On the club level he has been Treasurer for nine years and Entertainment Member at large.

In his spare time; He has worked every week at soup kitchens and Nursing Homes for the past 11 years, helped establish 20 head start libraries on Long island, worked on the renovations at the Hollis House for which he won the Pioneer Foundation award, headed the annual Chapter Sweepstakes for the past 20 years, chapter calendar raffles for 10 years and also sold merchandise at company locations and town fairs for the past 10 years- raising over $50,000.00 dollars in the past 20 years. John also volunteers at many walkathons such as Aids, March of Dimes, and M.S. Besides selling food at the Mill Neck Apple Fest to help the Mill Neck School for the Deaf he also put his carpentry skills to good use at the 4H Camp, Hole in the Wall, and Camp Horizon. In the past 25 years he was awarded the Pioneer of the Year, Life Member of the Year, the Bill Fundus award for outstanding service as a future pioneer and certificates of Appreciation from St. Patrick's and Berkshire Nursing Home.

John Kaiser

Judy Tharp
Judy became a Pioneer in 1983, and has accrued over 87,000 community service hours. She has held many chairs on council, club and has given her service as chapter president for 4 years.
In keeping with Verizon's focus on education, in her term, along with the clubs and council, donated over 10,000 personalized books to children grades K-2. She promoted the Open Airways Program (teaching children with asthma how to understand and cope with their condition), and instituted the 911 simulator program.
Her dedication to volunteerism also includes crocheting of afghans, lap robes and baby blankets. She volunteers annually at walkathons, Mill Neck Manor Apple Festival, holiday parties and the collection of food and clothing for the underprivileged. This is just a glimpse of some of the activities she has been involved with over the past several years. She truly goes the extra mile whenever called upon exemplifying the true spirit of Pioneering.

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Donna Tranchina
Donna became a Pioneer in 1981, at which time she handled Suffolk Council's toy drive. That was the start of her enthusiasm, compassion and dedication. She served as many Suffolk Council chairs and became President in 1985.

In 1993, she was Chapter President, participating in PT Phone Home, Medical Dolls, March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon, and her "KIDS" Project. Her "KIDS" Project won the Chapter People Who Care Award from the region. Her involvement in many projects demonstrated diversity in her dedication to foster the ideals and traditions of Pioneering.

Mary Smith
Since Mary's retirement in 1980, she has been an integral part of all aspects of Pioneering. She served twice as President for her Life Member Club and Life Member Representative for the chapter. To name a few, Mary has participated in food drives for "Athletes for Hunger," Festival of Trees, Dial an Elf Program, Golden Donor Blood Drive, Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf Applefest, outreaches, and has been a wooden soldier for 10 years. She also helps out in the chapter office as needed. She is an extraordinary Pioneer giving countless volunteer hours.

Louise Protosow
Louise retired with 44-1/2 years of service. She has been a Pioneer since 1967 and active since 1970. She has held positions with the Long Island Empire Chapter, Paumanok Chapter, Suffolk Council and Nesconset Life Member Club. She has held positions as group rep, fundraising chair, two terms as Suffolk Council president, community service chair and fellowship chair. She also was a guide and operated the museum store. Louise served as Suffolk Life Member Representative for two years.

Louise Protosow

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George Ambrusio
George retired from a 37-year career with New York Telephone and
became a Life Member Pioneer. He has held the titles of Life Member
Club President and Life Member Representative, as well as holding
positions on various chairs within his club. Some of his work has been with North Shore University Hospital, Guide Dog Foundation, American Kidney Foundation, Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf Applefest, horse racing fundraisers and nursing home bingos. George is a true leader with many contributions to advancing the purpose and objectives of Pioneering.

Gerrie Fitzpatrick
Gerrie became a Pioneer in 1986, but was a Future Pioneer for several years prior to that. Her involvement is non-stop enthusiastic energy filled with compassion and dedication. She has held the position of Council and Chapter President and is currently Life Member Representative.
Her community service projects have been: Hole in the Woods Camp, Getting Kids on Track, L.I. Hooked on Literacy, putting libraries in every Headstart Center, hooking up three deaf schools on Long Island with
computers and Internet capabilities of networking together and Hollins House renovations at East Islip School District. Still very active, she is now our chapter webmaster.

Gerrie Fitzpatrick

Hank Nowicki
Hank started his active volunteering in 1981, first as a Group
Representative, then an Area Administrator. He then became President of Nassau Council and Chapter President in 1988. Hank won the "Bell Ringer" Award for fundraising when he raised more than $22,000. This was for the Nassau County Medical Center to purchase a submersion tank to aid burn victims. He initiated the Golden Donor Blood Drive in 1990, which is still very successful today. He is also director for our
Pioneer PX at Zeckendorf Boulevard, Garden City. All in all, Hank has achieved community service hours too numerous to mention and is a true asset to our Hall of Fame.

Anne worked for New York Telephone for 37 years in the traffic department. In 1966, Anne became a Pioneer and then a life member upon her retirement. Although deeply involved in all aspects of Pioneering, Anne's major achievement has been fundraising for Paumanok. Through her efforts, she has generated thousands of dollars for her club and the chapter. She also has held the position of president for her Sewanhaka Life Member Club. Anne has love, sincerity and devotion to Pioneering


Anne Kopsky Anne worked for New York Telephone for 37 years in the traffic department. In 1966, Anne became a Pioneer and then a life member upon her retirement. Although deeply involved in all aspects of Pioneering, Anne's major achievement has been fundraising for Paumanok. Through her efforts, she has generated thousands of dollars for her club and the chapter. She also has held the position of president for her Sewanhaka Life Member Club. Anne has love, sincerity and devotion to Pioneering

Joan M. Kaiser Joan has made superior contributions to advancing the purpose and objectives of Pioneering over an extensive time span. She has been a Pioneer since 1979 and helped establish Paumanok Chapter. She has served as Council President, Chapter President and Life Member Representative, to name a few. She won the Pacesetter award for her work at A.P.P.L.E., a drug rehabilitation center, but has been recognized numerous times for her volunteering all over Long Island and beyond. One would be hard pressed to name a project that Joan was not involved with throughout the years. When there is a project going on, you can be sure Joan will be there. Now a Life member, she works tirelessly doing administrative work for the chapter while still keeping her community service as busy as ever.