Veterinarian is Mother of the Year
Holly Cheever celebrated for commitment to animals, too
With a self-effacing view that reflected the recognition she received Saturday, Dr. Holly Cheever credited others on the day she was crowned Mother of Year.
“Others” being those she’s spent her career caring for.
“I feel very humbled and very delighted,” Cheever, a veterinary doctor from Voorheesville, said during the Washington Park ceremony. “I care a lot about animal rights and animal welfare. I think a vote for me is perhaps a vote for the entire planet of animals that we share this world with.”
The award, presented by the city of Albany and St. Peter’s Health Partners with support from radio station B95.5 FM and the Albany Institute of History & Art, aims to celebrate mothers committed not just to their families, but also to their communities.
Cheever, nominated by her son Jesse Sommer, was one of five finalists for the award, presented on a bright sunny morning in front of the park’s Lakehouse.
Sommer made note of how she took
the time to be the best mother possible while also building up a well-known practice.
“As soon as I saw an opportunity to recognize everything that she’s done for me as a mother, but also what she was juggling while being our mother, I leapt at the chance,” Sommer said. “And I
should point out that it wasn’t just me ... my sisters also submitted nominations. And we all realize this was just another way of trying to recognize my mom for everything that she’s done.”
The winner was crowned by Albany’s 2020 Tulip Queen Kaya Rifenberg
Stempel and Mayor Kathy Sheehan.
Sheehan acknowledged the pressures of motherhood and admitted that she was glad that she did not have to choose the winner, as each nominee was phenomenal. The mayor also mentioned how it was lovely to not have to wear masks outdoors as all nominees were fully vaccinated. She talked about how the pandemic was slowly coming to an end and took the opportunity to urge the people of Albany to get vaccinated.
“I think something particularly poignant this year was we heard a lot about how these mothers responded
to the pandemic and stepped up,” Sheehan said. “They helped their community, helped their families and it was really
moving to hear their stories. And I think that this is a wonderful way for us to be celebrating coming out of a pandemic, and being able to, to move back to some normalcy.”
Quoida Lauzon of Schenectady, another finalist, said she felt honored to be nominated. Lauzon, who coaches new mothers, said motherhood in the pandemic has been especially hard. A single mother herself, she believes the ultimate prize has been being a mother to her 5-year-old, Amelia.
Others nominated were Dorothy Brewer-everett of Schenectady, Esther Patterson of Albany and Elizabeth Suarez of Schenectady.
“I was just so honored to begin with,” Lauzon said. “It’s just you know, all the moms are so important and the roles that we play, and I’m just, so honored just to be a part of this.”