EDITOR’S NOTE: The Chapter mourns the passing of Leon Johnson of Massena. Leon’s family has long walked in his honor at our Walk To End Alzheimer’s team in St. Lawrence County. What follows is a remembrance written by his daughters and offered by his daughter Charlene at his funeral.

Once upon a time there was a boy who was born in 1929 and raised in Brasher Falls by his grandparents.   His grandfather was a carpenter and taught the boy his trade.  After a  somewhat unsettled childhood, the boy graduated from high school and grew into manhood.  He served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict, married a young Italian girl from Massena and had three children—all girls.

One of the man’s good friends and co-workers called the man “Chub” and the man’s wife “Doo-Doo”.  The man and his family spent much time with his friend and his friend’s wife and family at their camp in Canada.  The man’s daughters remember his red plaid bathing suit. The man loved country and gospel music. He loved to sing, and he played the guitar and the accordion….often providing the entertainment at the couple’s home parties.  He shared his talent with all and taught his daughters to do the same. Most people who know the man described him as “gentle”, “kind” and “soft-spoken”.  They remember him as a man of few words and a very good listener.  Because the man favored a calm environment, he often challenged his wife to “fix it” when home life became chaotic. Looking at his wife, he might say, “Are you going to let her wear that to school?”—which was the man’s way of saying, “Tell your daughter she’s not getting out the door wearing that mini skirt”.   Occasionally, the man’s wife would challenge him to have a talk with his daughters when the daughters had managed to create too much chaos in the couple’s home.  The daughters knew that a one-to-one talk with the man, their Dad, meant it was time to shape up.

The man used to get a haircut regularly.  In fact, his daughters were nearing adolescence when they learned that “Pappy’s” wasn’t the barbershop. It was just about the same time when the daughters finally realized why it took the man so long to have that little bit of hair cut. To say that the man was “precise” and a “perfectionist” would be an understatement.  The man would often putter and fuss for hours with the smallest details of a project.  He took great pride in doing good work.  Not everyone knew that when wrapping a present, the man would measure the gift box, measure the wrapping paper, carefully fold and cut the paper with a jack-knife and then tape the box so each side was precisely the same as the other. The man’s lawn always looked like it had been groomed with scissors, and in the winter, his driveway was always scraped down to the pavement and neatly groomed on each side.  The siding on  his house was washed regularly and the house itself was picture perfect—tidy, neat as a pin.  After the man’s daughters grew up and left home, he decided to put an addition on his little house. He added a dining room and a dishwasher.  After all, he said, when he had three daughters at home, he didn’t need a dishwasher.

The man always drove a Ford, and after he and his wife retire,they drove their Ford to Florida during the winter months.  They had many friends there, and he and his wife made a new life for themselves after their retirement.  The man always made the morning coffee and would do the daily crossword and jumble word puzzles.  He joined the service organizations and was most active in the Korean War Veterans’ Association.  He was proud of his country and of his service to his country. He marched in the local parades and participated in service organization ceremonies but also loved to end his afternoon at the Legion where he enjoyed a beer with his buddies. The man was known as “Leon” to all, as “husband” (for almost 60 years) to Lucia, and “Dad” to his three daughters.  When asked why he never said “I love you”, the man said he didn’t need to say it because he showed it.  Of course, he was right but his family and friends want to show him and tell him that today. We are here to celebrate the man and his life and to say to him, “I love you”.  His story is not finished; rather, a new chapter has begun.  We remember the man for what he was and for what he taught us to be.  May our memories of him last forever.

Each year, we recognize the top fundraisers at Walk To End Alzheimer’s for their work to advance our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s. We call them our Grand Champion Fundraisers and laud them for their efforts in raising the most money as an individual or in the family and friends, corporate and senior care team categories. These individuals are invited to join us at the front of the following year’s Walk in their area and lead the pack through the Walk route.

This year’s Walk To End Alzheimer’s Grand Champions feature some familiar faces and some new recruits to the cause. They will be recognized during an awards ceremony at our Walk To End Alzheimer’s Champions Celebration Day on December 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Syracuse (more information is coming in case you would like to attend).

Together, the 2,474 walkers that gathered at our six walks raised combined $371,248 — an all-time Walk fundraising record for the Chapter. Join us today as we celebrate our Grand Champions.

GREATER BINGHAMTON WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S PRESENTED BY UNITED METHODIST HOMES ($64,218)

GRAND CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER

1. Rebecca Wright: $2,135
2. Joann Kristek: $1,753
3. Anne Pallischeck: $1,525

GRAND CHAMPION SENIOR CARE TEAM

1. United Methodist Homes (Faye Clark): 14,303.75
2. Team GSVE (Kathleen Mirrione): $1,747
3. Team Livemore (LaVernaDegnan Ireland): $1,544

GRAND CHAMPION CORPORATE TEAM

1. Wright’s Sanitation (Rebecca Wright): $3,953.25
2. AMBITION (Laura Mohr): $1,498
3. Delta Sigma Theta Apalachin Alumnae Chapter (Felicia McPhail): $1,054.33

GRAND CHAMPION FAMILY & FRIENDS TEAM

1. Betty Boop Troopers (Joann Kristek): $3,003.75
2. Remember The Song (Debra Saucke): $2,170
3. Donna’s Hope (Jim Browning): $1,255

CANTON WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

GRAND CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER

1. Lucia Johnson: $3,826
2. Kortney Trippany: $3,685
3. Dale Grant: $2,845

GRAND CHAMPION SENIOR CARE TEAM

1. United Journey (Kimberly McFaddin): $6,071.73
2. Riverledge Walkers (Melissa Burke): $1,514

GRAND CHAMPION CORPORATE TEAM

1. Community Bank, N.A. (Lyn Forbes): $1,884.19
2. Bella-Brooke Vineyard Memories (Becky Stewart): $500
3. Kinney Drugs (Jennifer Warren): $500

GRAND CHAMPION FAMILY & FRIENDS TEAM

1. Memory Keepers (Marilyn Gollinger): $6,207
2. Mind Savers (Kortney Trippany): $4,921
3. Gadbaw on the Walk (Ian Gadbaw): $4,684.46

ITHACA WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

GRAND CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER

1. Lori White: $2,242.00
2. Kathee Shaff: $1,360.00
3. Julie Crowley: $1,305.00

GRAND CHAMPION SENIOR CARE TEAM

1. Team Brookdale/Clare Bridge and Sterling House (Amy Rebera): $1,947
2. Clare Bridge Cool Cats (Melissa Dense): $975
3. Comfort Keepers (Teresa Nix): $100

GRAND CHAMPION CORPORATE TEAM

1. Triphammer Wines Gala Gang (Deborah Mohlenhoff): $2,780
2. Ithaca Coffee Company (Lois Collins): $202
3. Cook (Scott Cook): $125

GRAND CHAMPION FAMILY & FRIENDS TEAM

1. Bert’s Buddies (Lori White): $6,893.67
2. Cortland’s Actively Involved in the Community (Marilyn Scribner): $2,048
3. Ruthie B (Kathleen Monroe): $1,725

GREATER WATERTOWN WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

GRAND CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER

1. Gillian Maitland: $1,658
2. Russell Booth: $1,338
3. Stephanie Widrick:  $1,277.17

GRAND CHAMPION SENIOR CARE TEAM

1. Samaritan Keep Home (Hanna Kenney): $100
2. Seniors Helping Seniors of NNY (Dianne Nugent-Ward): $50

GRAND CHAMPION CORPORATE TEAM

1. Rose & Kiernan (Charles Berkman): $1,737
2. Jefferson County Public Health (Amanda Mower): $620
3. Go Purple For The Cure (Sherri Munson): $350

GRAND CHAMPION FAMILY & FRIENDS TEAM

1. Maring’s Misfits (Jennifer Hutteman-Kall): $5,184
2. Russell’s Reminiscence (Brenda Doney): $3,217.50
3. Team Larkins (Andrea Kearns): $1,831.06

SYRACUSE WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S PRESENTED BY METLIFE FOUNDATION

GRAND CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER

1. Paul Stepien: $3,190
2. Sue Lehr: $3,095
3. Marva Cook: $2,720

GRAND CHAMPION SENIOR CARE TEAM

1. St. Camillus AlzStars (Ellen Somers): $7,010.16
2. Loretto (Robin Bennett): $6,931
3. McHarrie Pointe & McHarrie Place (Jessica Flood): $3,913

GRAND CHAMPION CORPORATE TEAM

1. Lockheed Martin (Trish LeSoine): $8,037.75
2. CNY Chapter Board of Directors (Paul Stepien): $2,210
3. Siren Studios (Corrine Bardrof): $1,872

GRAND CHAMPION FAMILY & FRIENDS TEAM

1. Team Williams (Stormie Bligh): $4,286
2. Lou’s Loves (Aimee Glasper): $4,075
3. Irish Eyes Are Smiling (Stephanie Bliss): $3,583.44

UTICA WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S PRESENTED BY METLIFE FOUNDATION

GRAND CHAMPION INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER

1. Letha Palczynski: $4,770
2. Constance Burnham: $1,886
3. Julie Darling: $1,858.13

GRAND CHAMPION SENIOR CARE TEAM

1. Clare Bridge Clinton (Kim Martin): $1,941.40
2. Team Bethany (Deborah Zionc): $1,738.41
3. Mohawk Valley Health Care Center (Vanessa Boyer): $1,487

GRAND CHAMPION CORPORATE TEAM

1. Celebrating Life (June Hanrahan): $2,050
2. Booz Allen Rome Office (Kathy-Anne Soderberg): $1,420
3. Mountainside Medical (Brian Cooley): $1,415

GRAND CHAMPION FAMILY & FRIENDS TEAM

1. Team Jessie (Letha Palczynski): $9,755
2. Sito’s Angels (Julie Darling): $4,833.13
3. Memory Makers (Constance Burnham): $2,351

Central New York’s 2012 Walk To End Alzheimer’s season was nothing less than a record breaking year. The Chapter’s six walks raised an all-time high $371,248, which is $70,200 more than the previous year. Five of our six walks exceeded their Walk goals and two of our Walks experienced double-digit growth from 2011 to 2012.

• Greater Watertown Walk To End Alzheimer’s raised $32,365
• Canton Walk To End Alzheimer’s raised $46,880, beating its goal and raising 9.3 percent more than last year
• Utica Walk To End Alzheimer’s Presented by MetLife Foundation raised $58.891, beating its goal and raising 15.7 percent more than last year
• Greater Binghamton Walk To End Alzheimer’s Presented by United Methodist Homes raised $64,218, beating its goal and raising 8.2 percent more than last year
• Syracuse Walk To End Alzheimer’s Presented by MetLife Foundation raised $142,900, beating its goal and raising 26.7 percent more than last year.
• Ithaca Walk To End Alzheimer’s raised $25,994 in its first year.

This year’s Walks attracted 2,474 individuals and 298 teams, both records for participation. As a matter of fact, we had 112 more teams in 2012 than 2011, and saw 425 more individuals take part.

Local corporations got in on the act as well. The 2012 Walks saw a combined increase in corporate support by 30 percent over 2011. We also saw walkers use our online system more than ever, as nearly $140,000 was received through our Walk To End Alzheimer’s websites.

Our Walk To End Alzheimer’s Grand Champion Fundraisers have also been announced. Click here to see the top three fundraisers in our individual category and in the family and friends, corporate and senior care team categories.

Our team is hard at work counting and verifying the last Walk To End Alzheimer’s dollars that came in overnight. We’ll be back around 3 p.m. today to announce our Walk To End Alzheimer’s Grand Champion Fundraisers and the final totals from each event.

Stay tuned…