WARWICK –
Native Warwickian Jim Gerstner, who has spent much of his life giving back to his hometown, will be on the receiving end Oct. 22 when his beloved Warwick community honors him as its 2025-2026 Citizen of the Year. Warwick Citizen of the Year Jim Gerstner and recipients of this year’s Outstanding Community Service Awards –Warwick American Legion commander Tony Cosimano and Warwick volunteer Neil Sinclair – will be recognized at a ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Landmark Inn. The event, sponsored by the Warwick Valley Rotary Club, begins with a one-hour open bar social at 6 p.m. followed by food and the awards program. Tickets are $75 and available at warwickvalleyrotary.org. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Rotary International’s PolioPlus project, which aims to eradicate polio worldwide.
During his 49 years of volunteering with the Warwick Fire Department, Gerstner has worked his way through the ranks and says he’s enjoyed every step of the way. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with so many dedicated people,” added Gerstner with the enthusiasm of a youngster saying, “I want to be a fireman when I grow up.” Jim says he still enjoys driving a fire truck. Along this journey, he has been captain of Raymond Hose Company, Warwick Fire Department fire chief, president of the Orange County Volunteer Firemen’s Association and president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Orange County.
Jim Gerstner was elected to the Warwick Town Council in May 1999 and served as deputy superintendent for 20 of his 25 years and seven months with the Town.Gerstner is quick to give credit to others – inside and outside government – for successful community projects. These include property development rights (PDR) which preserves local farms from commercial development, transformation of the former Mid-Orange Correctional Facility into an industrial park and expanded recreational properties at Greenwood Lake Beach, Mountain Lake Park (former Kutz Camp) and the former prison grounds. “Back when I had a full head of hair, I enjoyed coaching peewee football and youth basketball. I was an avid bowler and played slow-pitch softball.” Jim credits his well-organized and multi-talented late wife, Kathy, with his success. Kathy, the mother of six, died in 2022. The Gerstners had been married 38 years.
Outstanding Community Service Tony Cosimano Patriotism, aviation and helping others have played major roles in the life of Tony Cosimano. As an Army Chief Warrant Officer, Tony flew hundreds of helicopter combat missions in Viet Nam. Three times his bullet-riddled aircraft went down. Each time he escaped, was rescued and remained eager to return to the skies to help his fellow soldiers. His next 60 years reads like a movie script. A helicopter company he helped form gained notoriety at Woodstock flying performers to and from the entertainment site and assisting with medical evacuations. This led to lucrative service contracts and contacts domestically and abroad. After media coverage of Tony’s dangerous and skillful helicopter rescue of teenagers trapped on a Hudson River cliff ledge, he recruited additional Hudson Valley pilots as emergency flight volunteers. An unpaid volunteer reserve officer for various police organizations, Tony was instrumental in providing guidance to sheriff’s departments in developing and implementing their own aircraft support programs. An active member of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club and American Legion, Tony Cosimano is generous with his time, knowledge and resources. He and his late wife, Peggy, were active with Winslow Therapeutic Riding, Warwick Humane Society and the Albert Wisner Public Library as well as veteran and youth programs. Currently commander of Warwick’s American Legion Post 214, Tony was Grand Marshal of Warwick’s 2021 Memorial Day Parade and was selected for last summer’s Hudson Valley Honor Flight. After 60 years he is still flying helicopters, although these are charter flights on multi-million-dollar planes. Last year Tony was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Helicopter Association International. Tony’s interest in music, especially jazz, has not diminished through the decades. His trumpet is always nearby (often in his car trunk). He has played “Taps” at Warwick’s Flag Day celebrations and other military events. One fellow legionnaire joked that Tony probably would like to play “Taps” at his own funeral.
Neil Sinclair In 2005 Neil Sinclair was recruited into Rotary by now retired Warwick Valley High School Principal John Buckley. Sinclair, who worked as an international electronics executive and importer, sought greater participation with local volunteers focused on improving the Warwick community. He joined Rotary, motivated by its motto "Service Above Self." Two years later, he served as president of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club for the first time. Since then, Neil has served three additional one-year terms as club president, a record for the 75-member non-profit service organization. Last year Sinclair became a regional assistant governor when his good friend and fellow Warwick Rotarian Leo R. Kaytes assumed the role of district governor for the eight-county Mid-Hudson Rotary District 7210. Neil is currently serving another term as Rotary’s Region 6 assistant governor while also being on the Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center’s Board of Directors, plus coaching and volunteering at Beautiful People. Neil’s wife, Fran describes her husband as “a lovable glutton for punishment.” That’s just fine with Neil as long as his community service allows him time for his family, playing tennis four to six times a week and an “occasional” spirited beverage.
Native Warwickian Jim Gerstner, who has spent much of his life giving back to his hometown, will be on the receiving end Oct. 22 when his beloved Warwick community honors him as its 2025-2026 Citizen of the Year. Warwick Citizen of the Year Jim Gerstner and recipients of this year’s Outstanding Community Service Awards –Warwick American Legion commander Tony Cosimano and Warwick volunteer Neil Sinclair – will be recognized at a ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Landmark Inn. The event, sponsored by the Warwick Valley Rotary Club, begins with a one-hour open bar social at 6 p.m. followed by food and the awards program. Tickets are $75 and available at warwickvalleyrotary.org. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Rotary International’s PolioPlus project, which aims to eradicate polio worldwide.
During his 49 years of volunteering with the Warwick Fire Department, Gerstner has worked his way through the ranks and says he’s enjoyed every step of the way. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with so many dedicated people,” added Gerstner with the enthusiasm of a youngster saying, “I want to be a fireman when I grow up.” Jim says he still enjoys driving a fire truck. Along this journey, he has been captain of Raymond Hose Company, Warwick Fire Department fire chief, president of the Orange County Volunteer Firemen’s Association and president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Orange County.
Jim Gerstner was elected to the Warwick Town Council in May 1999 and served as deputy superintendent for 20 of his 25 years and seven months with the Town.Gerstner is quick to give credit to others – inside and outside government – for successful community projects. These include property development rights (PDR) which preserves local farms from commercial development, transformation of the former Mid-Orange Correctional Facility into an industrial park and expanded recreational properties at Greenwood Lake Beach, Mountain Lake Park (former Kutz Camp) and the former prison grounds. “Back when I had a full head of hair, I enjoyed coaching peewee football and youth basketball. I was an avid bowler and played slow-pitch softball.” Jim credits his well-organized and multi-talented late wife, Kathy, with his success. Kathy, the mother of six, died in 2022. The Gerstners had been married 38 years.
Outstanding Community Service Tony Cosimano Patriotism, aviation and helping others have played major roles in the life of Tony Cosimano. As an Army Chief Warrant Officer, Tony flew hundreds of helicopter combat missions in Viet Nam. Three times his bullet-riddled aircraft went down. Each time he escaped, was rescued and remained eager to return to the skies to help his fellow soldiers. His next 60 years reads like a movie script. A helicopter company he helped form gained notoriety at Woodstock flying performers to and from the entertainment site and assisting with medical evacuations. This led to lucrative service contracts and contacts domestically and abroad. After media coverage of Tony’s dangerous and skillful helicopter rescue of teenagers trapped on a Hudson River cliff ledge, he recruited additional Hudson Valley pilots as emergency flight volunteers. An unpaid volunteer reserve officer for various police organizations, Tony was instrumental in providing guidance to sheriff’s departments in developing and implementing their own aircraft support programs. An active member of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club and American Legion, Tony Cosimano is generous with his time, knowledge and resources. He and his late wife, Peggy, were active with Winslow Therapeutic Riding, Warwick Humane Society and the Albert Wisner Public Library as well as veteran and youth programs. Currently commander of Warwick’s American Legion Post 214, Tony was Grand Marshal of Warwick’s 2021 Memorial Day Parade and was selected for last summer’s Hudson Valley Honor Flight. After 60 years he is still flying helicopters, although these are charter flights on multi-million-dollar planes. Last year Tony was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Helicopter Association International. Tony’s interest in music, especially jazz, has not diminished through the decades. His trumpet is always nearby (often in his car trunk). He has played “Taps” at Warwick’s Flag Day celebrations and other military events. One fellow legionnaire joked that Tony probably would like to play “Taps” at his own funeral.
Neil Sinclair In 2005 Neil Sinclair was recruited into Rotary by now retired Warwick Valley High School Principal John Buckley. Sinclair, who worked as an international electronics executive and importer, sought greater participation with local volunteers focused on improving the Warwick community. He joined Rotary, motivated by its motto "Service Above Self." Two years later, he served as president of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club for the first time. Since then, Neil has served three additional one-year terms as club president, a record for the 75-member non-profit service organization. Last year Sinclair became a regional assistant governor when his good friend and fellow Warwick Rotarian Leo R. Kaytes assumed the role of district governor for the eight-county Mid-Hudson Rotary District 7210. Neil is currently serving another term as Rotary’s Region 6 assistant governor while also being on the Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center’s Board of Directors, plus coaching and volunteering at Beautiful People. Neil’s wife, Fran describes her husband as “a lovable glutton for punishment.” That’s just fine with Neil as long as his community service allows him time for his family, playing tennis four to six times a week and an “occasional” spirited beverage.
