Ulster, Dutchess seniors among honorees
Ulster County residents Carolyn Shorter and Mary Tuma, and Dutchess County residents Theresa Drino and Barbara Jordan were among 94 people statewide honored during Older New Yorkers’ Day on Nov. 4.
Shorter has dedicated much of her life to helping others in the community. She has a huge heart and is always willing to extend a hand to anyone needing assistance. She helps people find housing, cooks for and feeds people who do not have food, provides financial advice to older adults, and visits those who are sick or isolated. Shorter is also a site manager at Ulster County Office for the Aging congregate meal sites in Ellenville, Rosendale, and New Paltz where she heats up the meals.
Shorter is the type of person who likes to help people and she volunteers whenever the need arises. She drives people to appointments and refers them to Office for the Aging services. Most importantly, she does everything with compassion and a smile. Her nickname is “Joy” because she spreads joy wherever she goes, and she is well-loved by the community.
Shorter is originally from Morris, Ga., where she graduated high school. She got married and moved to Ellenville, New York in 1964. Her husband, James Shorter, passed away unexpectedly in 2006. She has three grown children. Reggie, Ron and Jimmy, along with three foster sons and six grandchildren.
Shorter has been a member of the New Testament Church of Jesus Christ in Ellenville for 49 years, where she is a mentor and volunteer. Shorter has received a master’s certificate from the Ellenville Bible Institute. She is a member of the NAACP Chapter in Ellenville and she enjoys singing and playing the piano.
“Carolyn has the most incredible compassion for people,” says her nomination for Older New Yorkers’ Day. “Her spirit is contagious. She has helped more people than can be counted. She will help anyone in need and will not give up until her mission is accomplished. She is the ‘Angel’ of Ellenville.”
Tuma provides free fitness classes at the Ulster County Office for the Aging, People’s Place Wellness Center, and the Salvation Army, assisting each of these organizations with their fundraising projects.
Tuma spearheaded the funding effort to install a “chair lift” at People’s Place so older adults and people with mobility issues could access the second floor to participate in wellness programs and activities. She also volunteers for the Ulster County Veterans Services Agency, providing shopping assistance to homebound veterans, as well as the SPCA, where she helps care for animals at the shelter, and Community Action, where she makes sure no food is wasted — even bringing leftovers to the Forsyth Park Zoo animals.
Tuma is chair of the Ulster County Italian American Foundation’s Community Cares Program, which provides funding and outreach for many community needs. She is a host of “Tutto Italiano,” a radio show to bring awareness about services and resources. Tuma was awarded“Signora of the Year” by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation due to her endless diligence in serving members of the community.
Tuma is a lifelong Kingston resident. She is the daughter of James and Angelina Fabiano and is married to Garry Tuma. The couple has four children and five grandchildren.
Tuma formerly worked as director of operations at UPAC and as an intellectual property legal assistant at IBM. After completing cosmetology school and becoming licensed, she worked as a hairstylist and then attended college, earning a degree in business administration.
Tuma has been involved with the Hurley Library Board, Junior Achievement, Brownies and Girl Scouts, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ulster County where she earned the title of “Big Sister of the Year.” She served as president of the Parent Teachers Association, was a reading mentor at the elementary school, and received the Apple Award from the Kingston City School district for volunteerism. In recent years, she became a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor.
“I found out early as a young wife and mother that regardless of whether you are working, raising a family, or both, there is always time left over to help others and to have a positive impact in your community,” she says. “Just give it a try and give what you can.”
Theresa “Terry” Drino has been volunteering at the Dutchess County Office for the Aging for over a year. She volunteers Monday through Friday, checking in volunteers for the home-delivered meal program and helping to get them ready for meal delivery.
In addition to her normal routine, Drino helps package and deliver the meals. She also volunteers one or two afternoons per week at the Office for the Aging’s Tri-town Friendship Center, interacting with congregants and helping serve lunch. She also provides assistance and transportation to local older adults who need rides to the grocery store.
Drino is a native New Yorker. She was born in Yonkers, but her parents, Irene and Charles Nolan, relocated to Poughkeepsie when Drino was just a year old. Drino has been married to her husband, Rich, for 38 years and they reside in Pleasant Valley. They have one son, Patrick, who is 36 years old.
“Terry is very generous. No matter the task, she is always willing to go that extra mile to help anyone in need,” the Dutchess County Office for the Aging said in the release. “Her time, transportation, compassion, and caring are very much appreciated.”
Since her retirement, Jordan has volunteered for the past 12 years as a counselor in the Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program. In that role, she’s worked closely with Dutchess County residents to assist them with Medicare questions, helping them find a plan that best fits their health and financial needs.
Jordan has also provided over 30 years of service as a religious education teacher at St. Martin de Porres Church in Poughkeepsie where she received the 25 Years of Service Medal. She has also volunteered at The Lunch Box, a Dutchess Outreach hot meal program.
Jordan is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Poughkeepsie, where she raised two daughters. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her 10-yearold granddaughter.
She highly recommends volunteering as a great way to be active, provide useful service, and stay connected to the community. “Jordan has become an indispensable advocate for many older adults in Dutchess County,” the Dutchess County Office for the Aging said in the release. “She has demonstrated a great deal of compassion, patience, and determination as she guides clients through the health insurance options available to them.”