Cooperstown celebrates “Grace Kull Day”

Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh reads the Village’s proclamation honoring Grace Kull, left, on her 100th birthday.

The Village of Cooperstown set aside March 27 as Grace Kull Day – honoring the long-time resident on the occasion of her 100^th birthday and marking her decades of service to the Village.

Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh presented Mrs. Kull with a proclamation “in recognition of your decades of outstanding community and government service. The Village extends our Best Wishes, as well as sincere gratitude and appreciation for all you have accomplished in our Village.”

We quote here from the proclamation recounting highlights from her life and work deserving of note, including:

• In 2003, at the age of 81, when many people think of retirement, Grace decided to run for public office, and was elected to the Village Board of Trustees, ultimately serving two terms from 2003 to 2009;
• In her years as Village Trustee, Grace undertook major projects including development of the former Village Gardens into the popular Badger Park, for which she implemented the name change to honor the property donor, coordinated the mural painting, and oversaw a playground installation and skating rink improvements;
• In 2007 while a Trustee, Grace chaired the Village’s Incorporation Bicentennial, complete with a Bicentennial Cachet, one of the Village’s largest parades which included the Budweiser Clydesdales, and a community picnic in Lakefront Park as well as numerous historical lectures and presentations.

The proclamation also noted her two books, “Dear Bert” and “Traces: A Soldier Writes Home,” benefitting a scholarship fund at Cooperstown Central School.

“Whereas,” says the official document, “Grace Kull and her husband Al moved to the Village of Cooperstown in 1956, and although Grace moved reluctantly, we are all fortunate that she fell in love with our Village and raised her three children Steven, David and Diane here.”

Happy birthday, Grace Kull!