Rotary Foundation to recognize 4 Skidmore people Oct. 25

Four members of the Skidmore community will be among those honored Sunday, Oct. 25, at a brunch to raise funds for Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation scholarship program. William and Susan Dake, Marie Glotzbach, Beatrice Sweeney, Ed Lewi, and Julie Van Deusen are this year’s honorees.

The 10th annual event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Food is being donated by Steve Sullivan's Longfellow's restaurant. Tickets are $40 per person. For more information or to make reservations, call 583-9794.

This year the foundation awarded $40,500 in scholarships to 15 graduating seniors continuing on to college or vocational studies.

The following honorees share a deep commitment to the community's civic, education, historical, and athletic endeavors.

William Dake is chairman of the board of Stewart's Shops, the regional employee- and family-owned business. He is chairman of the board of SPAC, a trustee of Skidmore since 1988, president of the Saratoga Foundation, mentor of the Center for Economic Growth, and since 1994 has been a member of the board of the Saratoga Springs City Center.

He coordinated the construction and financing of the city's two ice skating rinks, co-chaired the fundraiser for the YMCA of Saratoga's West Avenue facility, and provided support for the Farmers Market Pavilion.

His influence has been important to the revitalization of Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady. He had a leadership role on both the Saratoga County Planning Board and Comprehensive Planning Committee for Saratoga Springs.

Susan Dake, a Skidmore graduate, is president of Stewart's Foundation, which in 2009 has budgeted $2.25 million for distribution to the arts, education, United Way and miscellaneous children, recreation, social and civic programs. Her civic and community activities, present and past, include raising funds for Skidmore, the National Museum of Dance, and the YMCA of Saratoga's capital fund drive.

She has held leadership volunteer positions with numerous organizations, including the Saratoga Foundation, Emma Willard, St. Peter's Health Care Services, Siena College and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

In just six years as a local resident, Marie Glotzbach has been instrumental in the creation of two successful community projects: Saratoga Reads! and the Saratoga Art Fest.

Glotzbach has received many honors and awards in her distinguished career in education as a theater teacher, director, and producer. At Skidmore, she is a lecturer in theater as well as a community relations officer. She is also a member of the board of directors of Universal Preservation Hall.

Beatrice Sweeney is an author and historian well known for her contributions in the preservation of Saratoga Springs history, including founding the Preservation Foundation of Saratoga Springs. A Skidmore graduate, she was city historian for 17 years. She has received numerous honors for her volunteer work, especially that related to preserving local history.

Julie Van Deusen, who graduated from and later taught in the Saratoga Springs school district, spent her professional career as an educator specializing in early childhood education. While employed by the Saratoga County Department of Social Services, she developed a foster parents program. She is also an experienced preschool teacher and coordinator, bringing together preschoolers and nursing home residents.

Her volunteer work included helping to establish and develop the Saratoga Independent School and the Children's Museum in Saratoga Springs, and assisting at the downtown tourist information booth.

Ed Lewi, initially a sportswriter, in 1962 created the agency that bears his name and which specializes in promotion and public relations, and special events and sports marketing. Lewi is the founding vice chairman and lifetime board member of the Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch, a camp devoted to providing summer fun for children with life-threatening medical problems.

He is secretary of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center board of directors.

He was instrumental in developing the United States Figure Skating Association. In 1980 he was press director for the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, and he was a consultant for ABC television for the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

He is also a trustee of the Capital District YMCA, a board member of the Saratoga Automobile Museum and founding director of Concerned Citizens of Saratoga.

To make reservations or a donation, please call 583-9794 or write to the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation, P.O. Box 4423, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866.