SeniorCare is pleased to honor two community heroes– Paul J. Lanzikos of Beverly and Sunny Robinson of Gloucester– at our 52nd Anniversary Celebration on September 19, 2024.
Paul J. Lanzikos, Beverly
Rosemary F. Kerry Community Service Award
Paul Lanzikos served as the Executive Director of North Shore Elder Services, Inc. for 15 years and he held many positions in organizations addressing the health, housing, and service needs of older adults and persons with disabilities. He has served as the Cabinet Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and as a member of the Massachusetts Public Health Council. In the spring of 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, Paul co-founded Dignity Alliance Massachusetts, a statewide advocacy undertaking to transform the provision of long-term services, support, and care in the Commonwealth via public policies, legislation, regulations, and best practices. He currently serves as the Coordinator of the Alliance.
Paul has more than fifty years of experience in designing, implementing, analyzing, and managing programs serving older adults and persons with disabilities. Testifying before Congressional panels, federal and state agencies, and state legislative committees, Paul has contributed to elder care and disability policy and program development at the state and national levels.
Paul volunteers as a Meals on Wheels driver in Beverly, has served as a member of the Beverly Human Rights Committee, and is currently a member of the advisory committee for Salem State University’s School of Social Work.
The Rosemary F. Kerry Community Service Award is presented to an individual of outstanding character, who gives of their time, expertise or resources, showing the highest level of community service to improve the quality of life of elders.
Sunny Robinson, Gloucester
Myra L. Herrick Outstanding Older American Award
Sunny Robinson began her adult activism in Cincinnati, where she graduated from the College of Nursing & Health, University of Cincinnati. After a year there, she taught Health Care Workers in Ethiopia with the Ministry of Health and the Peace Corps before earning a Masters in Adult Education at Boston University. For the next 25 years she worked in rehab and gerontology settings as well as engaging in anti-racism and criminal justice and mental health reform endeavors.
In 1995, Sunny and her partner moved to Gloucester, where her commitments centered first on CNA and HHA education. She also served as Gloucester’s Public Health Nurse (2002-2008) before she “retired” to devote herself as a leader, advocating for awareness, identification, prevention, and intervention of domestic violence and abuse, Hepatitis C education, and affordable housing advocacy, with an emphasis on senior housing needs—commitments that continue today. Now active with Mass Peace Action, Sunny has been deeply involved in local and international efforts for peace, justice and the creation of common security while her housing advocacy is currently centered with Housing4AllGloucester.
The Myra L. Herrick Outstanding Older American Award is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the welfare of elders in an innovative, creative, or dedicated way, or who is a role model for continuing to live an active, healthy, and purposeful lifestyle.