Jay Gsell opens a gift from The Jerome Foundation – something from MacKenzie-Childs – as Robert Balbick, foundation president, looks on. (Photos by Mike Pettinella)
By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
It was Jay Gsell who received the 39th Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County from The Jerome Foundation on Friday afternoon but by listening to his acceptance speech, one would think it was those in the audience who were being honored.
Blessed with the “gift of gab” and a well-populated vocabulary, Gsell said he was “honored and pleased” to receive the award, bestowed annually by the nonprofit organization to a member or member of the community for exemplary volunteerism.
About 80 people attended the luncheon at Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia.
Following presentations of proclamations and commendations from Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, Genesee County Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein and Batavia City Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr., Gsell strode to the podium.
Washington Avenue neighbors Jay Gsell and the Patric family pose for a photo at Friday’s Health and Humanitarian Award of Genesee County luncheon at Terry Hills Restaurant.
He was accompanied by the Patric family — his next-door neighbors on Washington Avenue – who nominated Gsell for the award.
All of the Patrics – James and Jill and their children, Evan, 13; Ryan, 10; Leah, 5, and James, 3, said a few words to express their heartfelt love and appreciation for “Mr. Jay” – the man who has taken them under his wing (and treated them to cupcakes) since they moved next door about 14 years ago.
James Patric, a physical education teacher at Batavia Middle School, shared the why and how of the nomination of Gsell, who served as the Genesee County for 27 years until retiring in 2020.
He said he was looking for volunteers for a youth baseball summer program this year and asked Gsell, a longtime Rotary Club member, if any Rotarians would be willing to work with the kids.
In the first week of the program, Gsell showed up, Patric said.
“Here he is, glove, ready to go and he took on a 4- and 5-year-old group of kids and was teaching them how to throw and hit,” Patric said. “And I thought, what an amazing guy and all that he offers to our community.”
A couple weeks later, Patric said he talked with Rosalie Simon about nominating Gsell for an award. That conversation led to Gsell’s name being submitted to The Jerome Foundation.
Gsell has volunteered countless hours to numerous causes, including the Rotary Club (he’s a past president and Paul Harris Fellow recipient), United Way, Meals on Wheels, GLOW With Your Hands, GLOW Corporate Cup, Wings Over Batavia, Alzheimer’s Walk, Batavia Business Improvement District Box Car Derby, Premier Nursing Home Christmas Party, United Memorial Medical Center and the YMCA.
In his 14-minute speech, he talked a little about his journey from New Jersey (where he grew up) to Batavia but a lot about his wife, Ann Marie, who he praised for being more talented and smarted than him, and about the contributions made by the folks to whom he was talking.
“So, first of all, I want to thank you all because you guys — this whole room is full of people that I have always inspired to become. Volunteers and community-first people; plain and simple, each and every one of you,” he said.
“These are people who, when I came to this community, embraced me and made it easy for me to step in and do what I like doing.”
Gsell said he learned about volunteerism at an early age, watching his mother’s work with the Cub Scouts and his father’s involvement with the Jaycees.
He said the fact that he and his wife have lived in Batavia for 31 years is a “testament to what this community is and how much I feel the commitment to this is something that is always given back ten-fold by the people in this community and the people that we help.”
“It makes a difference and that’s what we’re here to do – it’s to make that difference.”
Prior to Gsell’s speech, attendees watched a video tribute from Erik Fix, City of Batavia assistant manager; Jaime Saunders, president/CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes; Matt Landers, current Genesee County manager, and Rotarian Susie Ott.
Former City Court Judge Robert Balbick, president of The Jerome Foundation, was the master of ceremonies for the event. He announced that the foundation will be sponsoring the Martha Spinnegan Nursing Scholarship, starting next spring, in memory of the longtime Batavia resident who served as the organization’s administrative assistant for many years.