P.C. and R.B. seniors earn spots in Westchester Hall of Fame
December 4, 2024 at 11:21 p.m.
Every year, Westchester County celebrates the achievements of a group of individuals who prove that dedication and compassion don’t fade away with age.
On Friday, Dec. 6, 78 people from 31 municipalities will be inducted into the Westchester Senior Hall of Fame during a luncheon at the Westchester Mariott in Tarrytown. The honorees’ career paths vary wildly, but they all share one thing in common: they give back to their community.
Among them are Dr. Harmon McAllister and Anne Galletta, both of Port Chester, and Rye Brook resident Dr. Cynthia MacKay.
The three plan on attending the ceremony, where they will be presented with a plaque from Westchester County Executive George Latimer for their work in the community.
Harmon McAllister
Port Chester resident Dr. Harmon McAllister is among four inductees in the Class of 2024 who will receive special recognition on Friday.
“It was all a surprise to me, really,” the 88-year-old said. “I had been told I was nominated, but I didn’t even think I qualified.”
A former biochemistry professor at Wayne State University in Michigan, McAllister has spent the last 16 years working as a science educator at the Westchester Children’s Museum. The executive director of the museum, Thomas Sullivan, nominated him for his dedication to educating the community.
“Throughout my life, I’ve had a desire to explain complicated scientific principles to laypeople,” McAllister said. “I hate to say it, but anybody with the background can teach biochemistry to medical and graduate students. You could put a voice box in front of them and that’ll do it. Teaching science to a second-grader is a big difference.”
His wife, Bev, a former early childhood professional, encouraged him to join her at the museum in 2008. He’s been teaching children ever since.
“I think something that we do very effectively is teach through play,” McAllister said. “We plan our programs so that the children have something that will stimulate their enthusiasm for things that they may not even realize are scientific concepts.”
As an example, he described a program the museum runs that teaches children about the idea of transferring potential energy to kinetic.
“We don’t necessarily always word it that way,” the Westchester Avenue resident said. “But they begin to understand the idea through playing with catapults we make.”
Anne Galletta (right) poses for a photo with her daughter Christine. The 73-year-old will be recognized for her work with the Port Chester Senior Center.Courtesy of Anne Galletta
McAllister said he’s worked with hundreds of kids during his 16-year career with the museum, but one interaction sticks out.
“After one lesson, one kid looked up at me and said, ‘You’re my science hero,’” he recalled. “I couldn’t think fast enough, but I should have told him he was my hero. He had come in with an inquisitive mind and learned from what we did. But I didn’t think fast enough and all I said was, ‘Thank you very much, I’m glad you enjoyed it.’”
He plans on attending the ceremony with his wife and will be joined by his peers at the Westchester Children’s Museum.
Anne Galletta
When Anne Galletta heard she was heading into the Senior Hall of Fame, she laughed.
“I got the letter in the mail, and I thought it was hoax,” she said.
But her husband let her know it was real, and she had been nominated by a friend of hers from the Port Chester Senior Center: the late Nina Jones.
Jones, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, put Galletta’s name up for consideration due to her work with the seniors.
Every holiday season, the 73-year-old purchases Christmas trees and gifts for the homebound seniors.
“The whole idea behind it was that I didn’t think anybody should be alone this time of year,” she said. “It was actually supposed to be anonymous, but Nina went around telling everyone what I did.”
Regardless of failing to be a secret Santa, Galletta continued to deliver them every year.
“I’ve already started shopping for things for next year,” she said. “I’m a very good shopper, I used to do it for a living with Consumer Reports,” she said.
Outside of her work with the Senior Center, Galletta is a senior office assistant at Rye High School in the counseling department.
“I had retired, but I got bored of it,” she laughed.
Dr. Cynthia MacKay poses with a photo of the documentary she produced, “Broken Eyes.” The film brings to light the unfortunate consequences of LASIK.Courtesy of Cynthia MacKay
At the school, she pulls double duty as both an office worker and “everyone’s grandmother.”
“Next week, I’m starting with the Rye Recreation Department to write responses to children’s Christmas letters,” she said.
Galletta said she’s looking forward to the reception on Dec. 6 but stressed her work at the senior center is more important to her.
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I’m honored and excited, but I didn’t do this for any sort of recognition,” she said. “I just did it because I didn’t think anybody should be alone.”
Galletta said she had intended to attend the awards ceremony with Jones, but her untimely death on Nov. 8 made it an impossible desire.
“I really wanted her to come with me,” she said. “She was probably the most beautiful person, inside and out, that I had ever met. But I’m still going. I really wouldn’t miss it.”
Dr. Cynthia MacKay
MacKay is rounding 2024 off with a slew of personal achievements.
In the last 12 months, she’s released two books, produced an award-winning documentary and is now being inducted into the Westchester Senior Hall of Fame.
“It’s really been quite a year,” she laughed.
She was nominated by Dolores Eyler, the president of SPRYE, an organization for seniors who live in the City of Rye and surrounding municipalities.
“She’s a wonderful friend of mine who started The Rye Record,” MacKay said. “She’s a ball of fire who’s involved in a lot of things around this community.”
Eyler nominated the Stone Falls Court resident for her advocacy against LASIK eye surgery.
“Essentially, I’m trying to help humanity by keeping people from dying or going blind because of this procedure,” she said.
MacKay, a retired ophthalmologist, has been advocating against the procedure for the last 30 years.
“The fact that there are 40 million people around who have had this procedure, and the risk of complications is so high. There are 11 million people who’ve had their vision severely compromised or are living in constant pain,” she said. “Out of a group of 8,000 people, there have been at least 89 suicides.”
“Broken Eyes,” which she produced alongside filmmaker Dana Conroy, looks to educate people on the lesser-known side effects of the procedure through interviews with those afflicted by them.
The film has been screened at film festivals across the globe, including Dubai, Toronto and New York City, where it was named best documentary.
MacKay’s fight against the procedure has taken up a large part of the 82-year-old’s life—and she’s starting to see some results.
“I believe LASIK is starting to fade,” she said. “There were only 50% of surgeries this year compared to last year. So, it really feels like the word is getting out. Thankfully.”
When asked how she felt about the upcoming Hall of Fame luncheon, MacKay responded with one word: Fantastic.
“It’s truly an honor to be honored,” she laughed. “It sounds like the others are a group of people who truly care about their community, so I’m in good company. I’m looking forward to attending the ceremony.”
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