NewsMonticello Central School District announces 2014 Hall of Distinction Inductees
August 18, 2014
The Monticello Central School District is proud to announce the 2014 inductees to the Hall of Distinction. Five outstanding individuals will be honored at a special ceremony this autumn.
The 2014 Hall of Distinction Inductees
are:
Gene D. Block (Alumnus, Class of 1966)
Esteemed biologist, academic and inventor, Mr.
Block currently serves as chancellor of the University of
California, Los Angeles. Well known in the scientific
community, Mr. Block was the first to demonstrate that
single retinal neurons can function as circadian (24 hour)
clocks. His most recent research is focused on the effects
of aging on the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, the brain region
containing the primary mammalian biological clock. Also
known for his inventions, Mr. Block has created a
non-contact respiratory monitor for the prevention of Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome. He is the recipient of many
scientific honors and awards.
Joan Rhulen Farrow (Alumna, Class of 1946)
Mrs. Farrow has been a successful businesswoman,
philanthropist and benefactor for many decades. She helped
build her family’s business, the Rhulen Agency, to become
the 19th largest privately owned insurance agency in the
United States. Mrs. Farrow is among a small percentage of
female Americans to be confirmed and designated as an
Underwriting Name at Lloyds of London. She helped found the
Community Bank of Sullivan County, known as Catskill Hudson
Bank, where she served as board chairman for many years. Her
decades of community service include 20+ years as a
trustee/board of director of Catskill Regional Medical
Center, and she currently serves as director of the Greater
Hudson Valley Health System (a merger of the Catskill and
Orange County Regional Medical Centers). She is the long
standing president of the Catskill Regional Medical Center
Foundation, the fundraising arm of the hospital. She also
served as trustee/board member of Sullivan County Community
College, where a building and the board room are named after
her. Mrs. Farrow is the recipient of many awards among them
the Americanism Award of the Anti-Defamation League and
Catskill Mountain Business Woman of the Year.
Hon. Josephine Victoria Finn (Alumna, Class of 1968)
Judge Josephine Finn was elected to the New York
State Board of Regents in March 2014. She has recently been
elected to her fourth term as Village Judge for the Village
of Monticello. A tireless advocate for children and
education, Judge Finn spearheaded Creative Think Tank, Inc.,
a youth organization designed to help keep at-risk youth out
of the criminal justice system. She was a tenured associate
professor at Sullivan County Community College for 13 years
and has served on the school’s Board of Trustees. Among her
numerous awards include Frederick Douglass Award from the
Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History,
the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Community Service
Award and the Business and Professional Women’s Community
Service Awards and the Every Day Hero Award from Kiwanis
International, Monticello chapter.
Eugene David Nesin (Board of Education Member, 1976 – 2009)
Mr. Nesin served on the board of education for 33
years. He believed all children had the right to the best
education possible, while pursuing their interests in
athletic, arts or academics. He considered all children
equal and deserving of a quality education regardless of
their income, religion or race. He worked tirelessly for the
school district and the Monticello community. The Eugene D. Nesin Memorial
Scholarship for Excellence in Music was established in his
name to support
young artists. To date, 12 full scholarships have been
awarded to MHS graduating seniors, as well several hundred
partial scholarships to students in kindergarten through 11
grade for summer programs and music lessons. In 2011, the
theater on St. John Street in Monticello was dedicated as
the Eugene D. Nesin Theatre for the Performing Arts. Mr.
Nesin was a well-respected businessman. For more than 33
years, Eugene served the Monticello Central School District
with distinction on the Board of Education. He also remained
an active member of community service organizations like
Monticello Kiwanis and the National Ski Patrol at Holiday
Mountain. He was a past councilman for the Town of Thompson.
Mr. Nesin devoted his public and private life to young
people. He worked tirelessly to address their educational
needs, contributing hundreds of hours on behalf of the
children. He faithfully served our entire school community
with integrity.
Jacob “Jack” Sharoff (Alumnus, Class of 1931)
Known throughout Sullivan County as a humble,
principled, dedicated, fair and scrupulously honest man, Mr.
Sharoff served as Monticello Chief of Police from 1938-1968.
He was a "policeman's policeman" walking the streets and
checking buildings to make sure his beloved Monticello was
safe. He considered himself never to be off duty. He had a
passion for youth and founded a youth arm of the police
department, or "junior police." He was a lifelong Boy Scout
and served many years on the Executive Committee of the
Hudson Delaware Council of Boy Scouts as well as in many
other organizations. For his dedication to scouting, he was
presented with the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor in
Boy Scouting. Among his many other accomplishments, Mr.
Sharoff served numerous terms on the Monticello Village
Board of Trustees and the Town of Thompson Council.
The Hall of Distinction was established in 2012 by
the Monticello Board of Education to honor highly successful
graduates, former students and former employees who have
achieved distinction, outstanding accomplishment, or have
made a significant contribution within their school, family,
career, community and/or personal lives. Inductees are
selected by a committee consisting of community
stakeholders, Board of Education members, faculty and
alumni. The Hall of Distinction is located in the lobby of
the Arnold Packer Hughs Auditorium in Monticello High
School. Application forms for the 2015 Hall of Distinction
will be available in early 2015.
For more information, visit the
HALL OF DISTINCTION page or contact Laura McAndrew at
845-794-7700 ext. 70511 or by email to:
lmcandrew@k12mcsd.net.
