(Canastota, NY – Oct. 2014) The following people were honored on the Wall of Distinction at Canastota Central Schools this year.
LouButtino
A 1962 graduate of Canastota High School Lou Buttino was quarterback of the school’s championship team. He was also an undefeated wrester who received a full scholarship to Colgate University. From there he graduated from The University of Miami with an M.A., Colgate Rochester Divinity School and with an M.A. He received his PhD from Syracuse University.
Buttino taught at St. John Fisher College from1973-1995 and at UNC Wilmington, N.C. from1996 to the present. He received each institutions award for teaching excellence, outstanding scholarship and uncommon service to students and the community.
A two-term chair of the Film Studies Department at UNCW, he is credited with bringing the program to national attention. Over the years, Buttino taught 55 courses across four disciplines: political science, communications, film studies and creative writing.
Outside the classroom, Buttino is an award-winning filmmaker, author and playwright. His documentaries have received national broadcast on PBS, NPR and ESPN. The New York Times has critically reviewed his work and he is included in a text featuring James Baldwin, Annie Dillard and Alice Walker. He also has received numerous writing awards in documentary, screenplays and theatre.
Buttino has received numerous academic grants, lectured at Harvard, Brown and Syracuse University and had been interviewed scores of times by television, radio and print journalists. A Special Manuscript & Film Collection of his work is housed at WiUiam M. Randall Library, The University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
He gave the Commencement Address to Canastota seniors in 2012. In 2012 the school’s yearbook was in part dedicated to him.
Mary Crawford
Since graduating Valedictorian from Canastota High School, Class of 1981, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Crawford has dedicated her life to the pursuit of knowledge and giving back through educating others.
She attributes much of her success and desire to teach to her parents, Shirley and Jack Crawford, who always encouraged strong academic achievement and demonstrated through example the fulfillment educating others can bring to one’s life.
Mary enrolled in her undergraduate studies at Wells College where she took on a double science major in biology and chemistry and a math minor.
Following her undergraduate work she pursued her degree as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, part of Temple University in Philadelphia. Mary earned her doctorate in 1988 followed by a surgical residency in foot and ankle surgery in Seattle, Wash.
From there life seemed to get busier by the day. She went into private practice with her still current business partner of 24 years and now has three additional partners in their growing practice.
She also became heavily involved with education at one of the to presidency programs in the country, eventually assuming the position of Director of Podiatric Medical Education for several years. This allowed her direct involvement with the education and mentorship of the residents which, in many respects was one of the highlights of her career. Mary also married the founder and president of the International Foot and Ankle Foundation for Education and Research, Dr. G. Dock Dockery.
When she is not educating the residents, Mary is traveling the country and the world educating other physicians on research and surgery of the foot and ankle, frequently traveling up to 30 times a year to speak at various conferences.
Although never a personal aspiration, Mary did become politically involved with the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, an organization formed in1942 and dedicated to the education of foot and ankle surgeons. She became the first female president of the organization in 2009 and made many advances for the foot and ankle surgeon nationally during he rtenure. Her passion remains, however, with educating residents and physicians and improving the lives of her patients and she prides herself on being a lifelong learner.
Mary continues to reside in the Seattle area with her husband and her dog.
She also takes time each week to volunteer at the local animal shelter and to travel twice a year for the Yucatan Crippled Children Project in Merida, Mexico. This allows her to give back to those in need, whether two legged for four legged.
Joe Fisher
Joe Fisher is a member of the Canastota High School class of 1947. He was born and raised in Canastota and has live in Canastota his entire life.
After graduation, Fisher joined the family business and and becaame the fourth generation to carry on the family heritage of what is known as Fisher Farms.
Dating to 1874, the Fisher family’s business enterprises evolved over the years. The early days included a cider mill, vinegar sales and a large chick hatchery, followed by the well-known egg business and dairy farms and most recently the farm equipment sales, service and miling parlor installation business.
When Fisher’s two sons joined the business in the early 197s, the fifth generation marked the beginning of a century-old family heritage.
Growing up on the farm, a strong work ethic was instilled at an early age.
In addition to his daily responsibilities, Fisher found time to become active in 4-H, winning many cattle and showmanship awards over the years.
At the age of 20, he was honored by being selected as the NYS Outstanding 4-H Male, making him a NYS delegate to the National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC. He went on to serve as director of the Madison County Holstein Association and president of the NYS Holstein Association as well as becoming a respected cattle judge and cattle judge coach throughout the state.
In 1967, Fisher was recognized by Cornell Cooperative Extension with the NYS 4-H Alumni Award.
In 2006 he was presented with the lifetime Membership Award by the NYS Holstein Association for his many years of service.
Raising a family of four with the help of his wife, Mary Sue, Fisher somehow found time to involve himself in community service. He served as a councilman for the town of Lenox for 25 years and was a member of the Madison County Republican Committee for more than 10 years. He was a charter member of the Greater Lenox Ambulance Service as well as a longtime member of the Canastota Lions Club where he serves on the Board of Directors and co-chairs the annual CHS Children’s Christmas party.
Fisher was honored by the Lions Club in 2009 with its Distinguished Service Award.
Fisher has been a sports enthusiast all of his life and a devoted CCS Raider fan.
While in high school, Fisher excelled at basketball and baseball. Once his children and grandchildren became involved in sports, he rarely missed a game. Even now this his grandchildren have all graduated he still attends sporting events to root on the newest generation of Canastota athletes.
In 2009, Fisher was recognized by the CCS Athletics Association with the Outstanding Male Alumnus Award.
Gary Tornatore
Captain, U. S. Navy (Ret.)
Gary Tornatore, a graduate of Canastota High School, class of 1967 received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Lawrence University in 1971. Upon completion of the Aviation Officer Candidate Program in Pensacola, Fla., Tornatore was commissioned an ensign in the U. S. Navy in February 1972 and was designated a naval aviator in November 1972.
Tornatore’s first operational flying tour was with the Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 12 (HM-12). He participated in the clearing of mines from Haiphon Harbor and the coastal waters of North Vietman. Several subsequent tours of duty lead to his selection as a helicopter squadron commanding officer and eventual promotion to captain.
In October 1988 Tornatore assumed command of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15), a seagoing squadron consisting of more than 400 personnel and 12 multi-million dollar helicopters based a Naval Air Station Alameda, Calif. Follow on tours of duty at sea as the Air Boss on USS SAIPAN and ashore as the director of requirements for commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet capped a successful active duty career spanning 28 years.
Following retirement from active duty in 1999, Tornatore continued his service to the Navy obtaining the highest civilian government service level GS-5. He currently multi-billion dollar operations and maintenance readiness programs and provides assessment and analytical services to the Commander U.S. Fleet Forces in Norfolk, Va.
Tornatore holds a Master of Arts Degree in management from Troy State University as well as various technical and managerial certifications.
Gary and Kathy (Ramsdell), also a native of Canastota, reside in Virginia Beach, Va.