Artist’s Crusade To Recognize Heroes
Culminates In 10 Portraits’ Unveiling
COOPERSTOWN – Artist Janet Wentworth Erickson’s two-year effort to identify and paint portraits of 10 unsung heroes in Otsego and Delaware counties culminated this evening in a presentation at the Louis C. Jones Center and the exhibit’s opening across West Lake Road at The Fenimore Art Museum.
Erickson, a SUNY Oneonta art professor, accepted nominations, then selected 10 for portraits.
The 10 honorees: Medal of Honor winner Stephen Doane, Walton; Grace Smith, Oneonta; Frank “Cootie” Russo, former Oneonta fire chief; Beverly “Honey Bee” Tuthill, Treadwell; Socorro Marin, Hancock; Paul Bartholomew, Hancock; Camden Palmeter, Oneonta; Carol Mandigo, Oneonta and Laurens; the Rev. Norman Moran, Oneonta, and Madison Graupman, Walton.
Photo portraits of the other honorees, taken by Beth Cleveland, are included in the exhibit at The Fenimore.
Photo portraits from Otsego County were of Stacey Stanley, Stanley Wade Dance Company, Oneonta; Bob Brzozowski, GOHS executive director; Julie Dostal, LEAF executive director; Jim Maloney, Oneonta assistant fire chief; Mike Knowlton, Unadilla; John Delberta, Boys and Girls Club, Oneonta; Marge Merzig, Oneonta, Sgt. Vincent C. “Steve” Paparteys, D-Day veteran, Oneonta; Ian Austin, director, Oneonta Teen Center and photographer, Hometown Oneonta, and Mike Knowlton, Otego.
Honored with photo portraits from Delaware County were Samantha Misa, Bovina; Mike Cipperly, Delancey; Tina Miner James, Walton; Mark Stoop, Delancey; Gay Merrill, Delhi, and Delaware County Sheriff Thomas Mills.
