Senate Resolution No. 1463
BY: Senator METZGER
HONORING Anita Williams Peck posthumously upon the
occasion of her designation for special recognition
by the New York State Office for the Aging on May
21, 2019
WHEREAS, Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge
to the increasingly active roles they play in today's society; their
past contributions and future participation are a vital part of, and
valuable asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Anita
Williams Peck posthumously upon the occasion of her designation for
special recognition by the New York State Office for the Aging at its
Annual Older New Yorkers Day Celebration on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at
the Hart Theatre Lounge in The Egg, Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, Each May, the New York State Office for the Aging pauses to
acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by older citizens during
National Older Americans Month; and
WHEREAS, Members of older generations have helped build and shape
our Nation to be the greatest in the world; they have defended our
freedoms and values to ensure that those who come after them may have
better lives; nowhere in the Nation is the legacy of their efforts more
visible and more a part of the lives of all citizens than here in the
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck continually demonstrated extreme
competence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent leadership in her
unwavering service to her community and, consequently, has been selected
for this most prestigious honor; and
WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck was born in Kingston, New York, on June
5, 1940, and grew up in Rosendale at Williams Lake, the family resort
that her Finnish immigrant grandfather founded in 1929; and
WHEREAS, She was a graduate of Kingston High School and the
University of Vermont, and also studied at Trinity College in Dublin,
Ireland; and
WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck was the loving mother of Theodore Peck
V and Jennifer Patton, and the proud grandmother of Alexa Peck; and
WHEREAS, Beginning in 1965, together with her parents, Anita helped
operate the family business, the legendary Williams Lake Hotel, a year
round family resort; she took over sole management of the hotel and
resort in 1987, when her father died; and
WHEREAS, An extremely successful businesswoman and passionate about
her community, Anita Williams Peck extended genuine kindness and
gracious hospitality to everyone she encountered; and
WHEREAS, During her many years at Williams Lake, Anita Williams Peck
helped create countless memories for vacationers, beach club members,
and others in the community, while providing year-round employment for
hundreds of local residents, and summer jobs for area youth; and
WHEREAS, While managing Williams Lake, Anita Williams Peck was an
incredible environmental steward, preserving over 400 ecologically
sensitive acres, ensuring the land will remain forever-wild, aiding in
preservation of sensitive wildlife habit and protecting endangered
species; and
WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck was renowned in Ulster County and the
Hudson Valley for her countless hours of volunteerism with literally
dozens of non-profit organizations that included local libraries, local
schools, health organizations, chambers of commerce, historical sites,
children's agencies, the Rosendale Theatre, SKAL international - the
largest tourism organization in the world, and over 56 years at the
Junior League of Kingston.
WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck served as both a member and as
President of the Rondout Valley Central School Board, and was a member
of the Ulster County School Board Association; and
WHEREAS, This amazing woman was also a board member of the Ulster
County Community College Foundation, where she recently completed her
third term as Chair; and
WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck endowed the Anita Williams Peck High
School Public Speaking Competition, now in its ninth year at the
college; she also was an inaugural donor to the SUNY Ulster President's
Challenge Scholarship, which helps Rondout Valley High School students
to be the first in their family to attend college; and
WHEREAS, Upon her passing on January 26, 2019, many people asked her
daughter "What can I do?"; Jennifer's simple and telling response was
always "Be like Anita"; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by
individuals for the benefit of others which Anita Williams Peck
displayed throughout her life; and
WHEREAS, Anita Williams Peck enriched the lives of her family,
friends and colleagues through her love and respect for others, and
through the wisdom which comes from many years of living life to the
fullest; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Anita Williams Peck posthumously upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition by the New York State Office for the
Aging on May 21, 2019; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Anita Williams Peck.
