MIDDLESEX YMCA CELEBRATES TWO DECADES

Middlesex Family YMCA founding board members mark its 20th anniversary 

The Middlesex Family YMCA in Hartfield is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, YMCA founding board members gathered Friday in a panel setting to discuss the history of the Middlesex YMCA. The event took place at the Steamboat Restaurant in Hartfield as early board members Sally Gayle Revere, Martha Heric, Jerry Suyes, Carolyn Schmalenberger, John Koedel, Mary Lib and Dieter Hoinkes, and Clarence “Doc” Jones shared their recollections.

The Middlesex Family YMCA was founded in 2004 among many who doubted it would come to fruition. The “never give-up” approach by founding members to bring the Y to Middlesex and a firm commitment and understanding that the YMCA would be good for Middlesex County was the heart and soul of the discussions.

Middlesex Family YMCA Executive Director Dennis “Buzz” Lambert started off by praising the work of the early board members and highly praised Schmalenberger for her “passion, dedication and commitment” in bringing the YMCA to Middlesex.

“Carolyn encouraged me to follow my passion to make our community better,” said Lambert. “The reason I’m here everyday is because of this person’s support who always sees the positive in what we are doing.”

Panel

Schmalenberger opened the panel portion of the program by recognizing early members and donors who are now deceased. She asked for a moment of silence in respect and memory towards Marie Suyes, Chuck Ylonen, Charles Bristow, Bob and Carolyn Henkel, Chauncey Mann, Ruby Lee Norris, Pete Robins and Andy Turner.

“These were the people who answered a call that looked so bleak in the beginning,” she said. “They stepped up so this wonderful thing could happen for our county.”

The YMCA had to raise $150,000 just to start a “founding committee,” said Schmalenberger. “And we were able to do that through the fundraising work of those founding members.”

Mary Lib Hoinkes recalled that YMCA officials in the Newport News office were skeptical that the community would be able to raise those funds. “They told us right up front we probably would not be able to raise the money,” she said.

Schmalenberger agreed, “They were not so warm and fuzzy in the beginning, but we were happy to prove them wrong.”