Two Livingston County women who have spent decades serving their communities were recognized this week by New York state for their volunteer efforts and civic engagement.
The New York State Office for the Aging named Sherry Kramer of Dansville and Mary Ann Thompson of Livonia as 2026 Older New Yorkers’ Day awardees during a ceremony held May 26 in Albany. The annual recognition honors older adults across the state for volunteerism and community involvement.
Kramer and Thompson were among more than 100 New Yorkers honored as part of the state’s Older New Yorkers’ Day celebration, which coincides with Older Americans Month. This year’s theme, “Compassion in Action,” highlighted the role older residents play in strengthening their communities.
Kramer, a retired teacher who spent 35 years at Wayland-Cohocton Central School, has volunteered with local hospitals, churches, food pantries and civic organizations. She also provides transportation and assistance to residents in need and helped establish a local pickleball group with her husband to promote community connections and healthy living.
Thompson has compiled more than 30 years of volunteer service in Livingston County. She helped create programs for women in transition, worked with homeless female veterans and taught employment skills through ARC of Livingston-Wyoming during her professional career. For the past decade, she has served as a leader at the Little Finger Lakes Center in Hemlock, helping preserve the historic former Hemlock School building and transform it into a community gathering place.
Both women remain active in local affairs. Thompson serves on the Livonia Zoning Board of Appeals and the town’s Comprehensive Planning Committee, while Kramer continues to support numerous community organizations throughout the region. Both were also finalists for the 2025 Livingston Cares Volunteer of the Year Award.
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