GYLA Installs Memorial for Former President Shultis
By BILL BELLEN
MILFORD
On Saturday, September 20, members of the Goodyear Lake Association gathered beside the group’s records shed on Lake Shore Drive North. Beginning around noon, attendees sat down in the shade of pop-up canopies and awaited freshly-grilled burgers and hotdogs at the annual GYLA picnic.
Before sitting down for casual banter, GYLA Board Member and recently-designated historian Lori Michaels and Joyce Shultis, former longtime treasurer and secretary for the association, took the short drive down the street to one of GYLA’s designated lake access sites—affectionately dubbed “Journey’s End”—where they visited a recently-installed bench along the waterfront. Placed on September 15 at roughly 10 a.m., the bench was dedicated in loving memory to Bruce Shultis.
Husband of Joyce, Bruce shifted between the positions of GYLA president and vice president for years. Known for his central role in organizing the Goodyear Lake centennial celebration in 2007 and revitalizing the lake association as a whole, fellow residents always make a note of Bruce’s kind demeanor and overwhelming care for both the people and environment of the lake. Bruce also played an instrumental role in the opening of accessible boat launches in Portlandville and the subsequent launch installation at Silliman Cove, as well as the securing of the association lake access where the bench in his memory now stands.
Following his passing in the winter of 2024, GYLA members immediately acknowledged the need to recognize Bruce for all of the work he had done on behalf of the organization. Members discussed what the best way to move forward would be, and eventually settled on the purchase of a durable bench for the access site adjacent to where the Shultises have lived for so many years.
“It was brought up at one of our meetings…We just thought Bruce did so much…He would go look at the lake every morning [from this viewpoint]…plus, he was a big part of the association, so I think it’s just kind of a thank you and a memory of all that he did,” Michaels shared.
“It was something that we really thought would be good for [his memory] because he has been involved in the Goodyear Lake Association probably for some 30-plus years,” current GYLA President Peter Paffenroth said. “It was an honor for us to do it…He really cared about Goodyear Lake.”
Paffenroth purchased the bench from the Amish Barn. Joyce commented on how the purchasing of the bench in Bruce’s name continued his legacy of commitment to the lake and its community.
“Bruce and I bought a bench, but it was more fragile and it wasn’t nearly as good for the area as this…We loved our property and being able to see the lake,” Joyce recalled.
As the breeze picked up and the vibrant autumn leaves began to fall, Joyce and Michaels returned to their car and retraced the short journey back to the picnic. Numerous people commented on their gratitude for a memorial in Bruce’s honor finally being realized, and shared their fond memories of his extensive time at the lake. The annual picnic event would last the next few hours, filled with plenty of casual discussion and lots of recollection of Bruce’s impact on those gathered.
For more information on the Goodyear Lake Association, visit https://www.goodyearlakeny.org/. Those interested in learning more about the life and contributions of Bruce Shultis can revisit the “Partial Observer” column detailing his accomplishments and legacy on AllOtsego.com.
