Rochester Celebrates Centennial
More than 100 people including celebrities from around the district gathered April 29 to celebrate the centennial of the Kiwanis Club of Rochester, including Kiwanis International President Sue Petrisin.
The Rochester club, the fourth Kiwanis club in the world and the first in New York, also was the home club of George F. Hixson, the first president of Kiwanis International and a key player in the organization's early development.
Hixson, who remained active in Kiwanis until his death in 1967, had 41 years of perfect attendance with the Rochester club, and served as charter president of the club in 1916-17, and returned to the post in 1925.
At one time the Rochester club had 900 members. As suburban populations continued to grow, the club's membership declined as its members moved on to form other clubs in the area, including clubs in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston and Steuben counties.
From left, International President Sue Petrisin, Distinguished Past Gov. Patrick Cooney, Past First Lady Linda Cooney and Jason Steiner.
From left, Past International President Jerry Christiano, Past Gov. Robert Calabrese (back to camera), Past Gov. Patrick Cooney, Janet Calabrese and Linda Cooney.
Distinguished Past Gov. Peter Mancuso with President Sue.
From left, Jaime Neuringer, Finger Lakes Lt. Gov. Jordan Neuringer and President Sue.
Circle K Seneca Division Lt. Gov. Katey Sackett with President Sue.
Gov. Forbes Irvine addressing the event.
The head table applauds as President Sue begins her talk.
Behind President Sue is a banner noting that the Kiwanis Club of Rochester was the home club of George F. Hixson, the first president of Kiwanis International. Petrisin, the first woman to lead any major community service organization including Kiwanis, is the current holder of that office. Hixson also was the first president of the Kiwanis Club of Rochester; the current holder of that office, Tracy Zoellick, is at the left.
President Sue presents her banner to President Tracy.
The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Past Gov. Jack Tetamore, a member of the Rochester club since 1959 who holds the distinction of having George Hixson as his Kiwanis sponsor. He told the audience about his relationship with Hixson. His club surprised Tetamore with a Centennial Award. Pictured above, from left, are Past Lt. Gov. Joanne Underwood, a Rochester member; Past International President Jerry Christiano, Rochester President Tracy, International President Sue and Tetamore, with the Centennial Award in front of him.
President Sue puts the Centennial pin on Tetamore's jacket.
At right is Tetamore's grandson, Michael Tetamore, also a member of the Rochester club.
From left, Past Lt. Gov. Joanne Underwood, Past Distinguished Gov. John Gridley, President Tracy and Past Gov. Jack. Gridley presented Tetamore with a Brittany Award from the Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation.
Memorabilia from the Rochester club's history.
The program for the 1916 charter night.
The dignitaries present posed for a picture. Seated, from left, are Distinguished Past Gov. Patrick Cooney, International President Sue Petrisin, Past International President Jerry Christiano, Past Gov. Jack Tetamore; standing, Past Gov. Justin Underwood, Gov. Forbes Irvine, Past Gov. Doreen Pellittieri, Distinguished Past Gov. Joe Eppolito, Distinguished Past Gov. John Gridley, Distinguished Past Gov. Peter Mancuso, Past Gov. Robert Calabrese, Past Gov. Charles Price and Past Gov. Susan Ganey.
