By Mel Rubenstein
Contributing Writer
Over the years I received recommendations of people to be featured in this column in a number of ways. One of those ways is from people who read this column in the Eagle Bulletin. That is just what Lorene Dadey of East Syracuse did when I received her email recommending Jack Dooling. Lorene provided a long list of reasons that Mr. Dooling deserves this recognition.
Jack Dooling is a Syracuse native. He attended Blessed Sacrament School and then St. John the Evangelist High School in Syracuse. Jack then went to the Powelson Business School where he specialized in Purchasing. He put that education to good use when he took a job at the Crouse Hinds, and was a purchasing agent for the next 37 years, retiring in 2006.
During that time Dooling spent his spare time volunteering in youth sports, where he coached basketball, little league and Pop Warner football. This was a natural thing for Jack to do, because he loves sports and played on his high school basketball team where he was a two-year All Parochial Player.
One week after retiring from Crouse Hinds, Jack Dooling began volunteering at the Vera House. He did that because the Vera House is a comprehensive domestic and sexual violence service agency providing shelter, advocacy and counseling services for women, children and men.
Jack Dooling began by spending two nights each week watching over kids at the Vera House shelter. For the past 11 years Jack Dooling has volunteered at the Onondaga County Court House where Vera House has an office to assist abused persons to obtain an order of protection. He also assists clients by attending the Integrated Domestic Violence Court (IDV) and explains what services the Vera House has to offer them.
They emphasize, “If you feel threatened by any member of your family, call the 24 hour Crisis and Support Line at 315-468-3260.” When necessary, Jack arranges for a sheriff’s edict to serve the perpetrator the same day.
In 2010, Jack was awarded the Sister Mary Vera Award which is for a person who has worked to enrich the lives of all people and has made a contribution to those who have been affected by domestic or sexual violence. For the past two years Dooling has been a member of the Board of Directors for Vera House.
“In 2006 Jack Dooling also began volunteering at Loretto where he assists staff in transporting wheel chair residents to a weekly Catholic Prayer Service. He also assists in the service by reading and distributing Communion to the residents. In 2007 he was recognized at their Pastoral Care Luncheon as the Outstanding Volunteer. And, in 2007, the United Way honored Jack for being the Exceptional Community Volunteer,” Lorene Dady said.
Dooling has also been a board member for Codfish since its founding three years ago. Codfish stands for Community of Dewitt Friends In Service Here. This group of volunteers provides rides at no charge for people who do not have transportation to doctor or dental appointments. Jack is also one of those drivers.
In 2015 PACE of CNY opened a new facility in the Sanders Creek area of Franklin Park. The mission of PACE is to provide a wide spectrum of care from primary care physicians and nurse practitioners to social workers and dietitians services to individuals who would otherwise qualify for nursing home care. They do this at the patient’s home, or at day care centers like the one in Sanders Creek. Jack Dooling volunteers at PACE by driving patients from their home to the facility, and assisting at the Catholic Mass provided for the clients.
Jack is not the only volunteer in the Dooling family. His wife, Pam, brings her grandchildren to the Assumption Food Pantry where they help unload the trucks and fill the shelves. How can that not be a great learning experience for those kids! Pam also volunteers for the Syracuse Rose Society at the Thornden Park Garden.
At the Town of Dewitt 9/11 Memorial, Jack and Pam Dooling were the co-chairs for this years annual memorial ceremony. Hundreds of people attended and listened to Dooling’s guest speaker, Father Sean O’Brien, Pastor at St. Mathew’s Church of East Syracuse.
Jack Dooling also served as a member of the Dewitt Town Board from 2012 to 2015. He prides himself as the only retired person to serve on the board. Jack took advantage of his many years as a Purchasing Agent for Crouse Hinds and saved the Town of Dewitt hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide array of town projects. On the Nov. 7 Election Day, Dooling ran for another term on the town board.
The Doolings live in East Syracuse. They have five sons, and proudly have nine grandchildren. Oh, one more thing. Thank you Lorene Dadey for recommending Jack Dooling to be featured in this column, and for sending the long list of reasons why.
To recommend someone with a stellar record of volunteering to be featured in this column contact Mel Rubenstein at [email protected] or 315-682-7162.