By Sharon A. Driscoll, Media Director
(Wampsville, NY – Sept. 2015) The Madison County Dept. of Solid Waste recently recognized Pat Crosby of Cazenovia for her years of help and steadfast support in promoting recycling in Madison County.
Crosby is an ardent supporter of the Madison County Dept. of Solid Waste and the many recycling programs that have been developed over the past 25 years.
Recently, the ARC of Madison Cortland and the Dept. of Solid Waste celebrated 25 years of recycling. During that celebration members of the ARC staff and administrators along with County Supervisors were recognized for their years of support and dedication to the County’s recycling efforts.
However, in the midst of celebration and award presentations one lone resident was not recognized. She was in attendance at the pre-recycling discussions some 27 years ago, on hand throughout these many years to help and support and in attendance for the 25th anniversary of recycling celebration in Madison County on June 26.
“We were remiss in not recognizing Mrs. Pat Crosby,” said Director James Zecca. “She has been an unwavering advocate of recycling since it was first proposed during a Solid Waste and Recycling Committee meeting in 1988. The late John Ayer, then Supervisor for the town of Cazenovia and the first chairman of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee, routinely became annoyed with Mrs. Crosby who continually interrupted the discussions to push for more recycling in Madison County.”
“Pat was relentless in her pursuit of Recycling in Madison County,” Zecca said. “She was on hand in 1990 when we opened the ARC MRF; she was there to help explain the punch card system to residents at our transfer stations. We have a postcard from Pat, dated 1989, telling me that the League of Women Voters will be on hand to help the town clerk explain the solid waste coupon system and other intricacies of the new recycling program. She also suggested that I contact the Boy Scout master to have the scouts help out at the transfer stations.”
She went on the bus tour to the city of Oneonta Recycling Center in June of 1989 as a guest of the Madison County Standing Committee on Solid Waste Management and Recycling. The purpose of that trip was to see, first hand, the Oneonta Recycling Center where local haulers were picking up source separated materials and bringing it to the center. This trip was in anticipation of a 1990 opening of the ARC MRF. The recycling center did open in 1990 and has grown to include the plethora of recyclable items currently finding their way to market rather than being sent to the landfill.
The sun was shining brightly on June 26 as folks started to arrive for the 25th celebration of recycling in Madison County. As Crosby walked around the campus she noticed all of the changes that had transpired since her last visit and said, “I can’t believe how far you have come. There are so many buildings now and solar panels too.”
Crosby was brought up to date about the gas-to-energy facility and about Johnson Brothers Lumber expanding their business — building drying kilns at the Buyea Rd Landfill site to utilize the excess heat from the gas-to-energy facility.
In her personal life Crosby was always thrifty: making the most of what she had allowed her to embark on some great adventures. Life was not always easy for this innovative lady, but she was never deterred from the task at hand or from her dreams. Money was tight but that did not stop Crosby from traveling the world and embracing life.
Skiing was one of her many passions; learning to ski in the Adirondacks from a Swiss gentleman who developed the edges for skis.
Crosby loves winter in Cazenovia and until a few years ago served as a member of the ski patrol at the Cazenovia Ski Club. She skied all over Europe and in New Zealand, Utah and Colorado. She was invited to ski as a guest with the ski patrol in Switzerland.
Crosby was also an avid bicyclist and by staying in hostels and relying on her thrifty nature she was able to go on adventures. She biked through Austria, England, France, along the Danube River, and even in China a very long time ago.
“There were no toilets then,” Crosby said.
She has traveled to Easter Island, Russia, Mexico and made numerous visits to France. She speaks fluent French.
Crosby earned a living house sitting, pet sitting and did some child care. She was born and raised in New Jersey moving to Cazenovia in 1957 where she raised three sons, Peter, Christopher and Sam.
She was a dispatcher at CAVAC for 26 years, 1987 to 2007, logging in 1,801 hours. Crosby is a life time member of Willow-Bank Yacht Club, and attends many of the activities there. She has a loyal group of friends with whom she played tennis, cross country skied and sailed with on Cazenovia Lake.
Crosby’s friends Susie Turner, Jean Doering and Mary Ann Lansing shared stories contributing to this article.