Ivey wins ‘outstanding retiree’ award

Unassuming. Solid. Dependable. Compassionate. These are just a few of the adjectives used to describe this year’s Outstanding Active Retiree — UUP member Horace Ivey, who retired from the Upstate Medical University chapter in Syracuse in 1996.

Ivey, who was chosen unanimously to receive the award by the union’s statewide Committee on Active Retired Membership (COARM), continues to serve as one of seven regional COARM chairs.

Since he was first elected in 1998, Ivey has been instrumental in efforts to unite out-of-state retirees in hopes that they will remain active lobbyists for issues relevant to the state university and to retirees.

Before retiring from SUNY as an associate professor of social services, Ivey was a member of numerous campus committees, including the Dean’s Committee on Human Experimentation and the statewide Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects. He most recently served the union on the statewide Legislation Committee and was on the UUP Negotiations Team in the late 1970s.

“Horace is full of ideas and suggestions and has a tremendous wealth of knowledge,” said COARM Chair Pearl Brod of Farmingdale. “He assumes all assignments with integrity and thoroughness, and he is a delight to work with.”

A charter member of UUP who began his union career with the Senate Professional Association — UUP’s predecessor organization — Ivey has a great sense of social responsibility and altruism. He currently serves on the Syracuse (Nursing) Home Association Board of Directors, is a minister with Outreach Services’ World of Faith Christian Outreach Center in Rockledge, Fla., and is a diplomat of the American Psychotherapy Association. He is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and serves on the Planning, Scholarship and Women’s Advisory committees at Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla. His board memberships also include the AIDS Task Force of Central New York and the Advisory Council on AIDS Education for the Cazenovia school district.

His vita spans eight pages and includes a variety of committee work, research grants, professional experience, honorary positions, papers presented and membership in professional societies.

Among his most notable achievements: Ivey received Upstate Medical University’s 1990-91 President’s Award for the Advancement of Affirmative Action, which recognized his work in building “effective ties” between the health science center and the Syracuse minority community. The award noted his personal commitment to the Urban League of Onondaga County, the Spanish Action League, the NAACP and the North American Indian Club, among others.

Listed in Who’s Who Among Black Americans, Ivey was appointed by former Gov. Hugh Carey to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors, Syracuse Developmental Center, Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities from 1977-1983.

“Anyone who equates ‘retirement’ with ‘reticence’ need only look at Horace to know that’s not the case,” said UUP President William Scheuerman. “He is always willing to lend a hand to his union and to his community. UUPers — active and retired alike — are lucky to have him working alongside us.”

— Karen L. Mattison