LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Bruce G. Blower upon the occasion of his
retirement as Director of the Suffolk County Office of Handicapped
Services after 29 years of outstanding and dedicated service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who distin-
guish themselves in their profession and in service to their community
merit the highest commendation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor
Bruce G. Blower upon the occasion of his retirement as Director of the
Suffolk County Office of Handicapped Services after 29 years of distin-
guished and dedicated service to the people of Suffolk County and the
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, A retired U. S. Army Lieutenant and a graduate of Hofstra
University, Bruce G. Blower, the founding Director of the Suffolk County
Office of Handicapped Services, has dedicated his life to enhancing the
quality of life of persons with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his many responsibilities as Director coordi-
nating services and developing programs for Suffolk County's 283,000
citizens with disabilities, Bruce G. Blower also served as Suffolk Coun-
ty's Federal Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Officer and
wrote a bi-monthly column for ABLE, a widely known and highly regarded
newspaper in the disability community; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Blower may be justly proud that under his leadership,
the Suffolk County Office of Handicapped Services, which officially
opened January 1, 1981, won 17 prestigious national awards for the
development of innovative programs; and
WHEREAS, Prior to joining Suffolk County government in 1980, Bruce
Blower was a legislative aide, an officer in the U.S. Army and Army
Reserve, and President and Chairman of the Board of the Long Island
health planning agency, the Nassau-Suffolk Health Systems Agency; and
WHEREAS, He is a Life Member of Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS,
Disabled American Veterans and the United Spinal Association and an
active and valued member of his community and his profession; and
WHEREAS, An ambulance volunteer, Bruce Blower is a former Chairman of
the New York State, Nassau-Suffolk, and Suffolk Regional Emergency
Medical Services Councils which are responsible for the training of EMS
personnel and the licensing and coordination of all ambulance services;
and
WHEREAS, Bruce Blower resides with his wife in Huntington, where he is
a Charter Member and six-term Chairman of the Board and President of the
Huntington Community First Aid Squad, one of the busiest volunteer emer-
gency ambulance corps on Long Island; and
WHEREAS, He served for ten years on the State Hospital Review and
Planning Council, which approves hospital, nursing home, hospice, and
home health care agency rules and regulations, and chaired its Planning
Committee; he chaired the Advisory Council to the State Advocate for
People with Disabilities and is also a former four-term Chairman of the
State Rehabilitation Council, which advises the federal government, the
State Board of Regents, the State Education Commissioner and the Gover-
nor on the quality of rehabilitation programs within New York State; and
WHEREAS, He serves on the Verizon Corporate Consumer Advisory Board
and, since May 2006, when he was appointed by the Governor, Bruce Blower
has served as one of the Commissioners of the New York State Commission
on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities; he will
continue to serve in this capacity in retirement as well as an active,
strong voice for the disabled and handicapped communities; and

WHEREAS, Bruce Blower has fittingly been honored many times in recog-
nition and appreciation of his leadership, dedication and outstanding
achievements; the many awards he has earned include Hofstra University's
George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award for outstanding achieve-
ment, the Long Island Association's Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award, the
New York State Commission on Quality of Care Man of the Year Award, the
Suffolk Independent Living Organization's Barrier Busters Award and
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Suffolk's 2006 Government Leadership
Award; and
WHEREAS, He was also featured in the Winter 2006/2007 edition of
CAREERS AND THE DISABLED magazine's front page article on "Civil Rights
Advocates"; in 2007 he received a New York State Excelsior Award for
Excellence, given to disabled individuals who have displayed extraor-
dinary achievements; and in 2008, he was recognized by School-Business
Partnerships of Long Island as one of the 60 Over Age Sixty Visionaries
who have shaped Long Island into the great community it is today; and
WHEREAS, Bruce Blower has lived his life with principled courage and
has truly made a genuine difference in the lives of countless Long
Islanders and other New Yorkers and has justly earned the admiration,
esteem and affection of the colleagues, friends and family who will
gather at the Hamlet Wind Watch Golf & Country Club in Hauppauge on
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 to honor him for his lifetime of service on
behalf of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, The strength of Bruce Blower's commitment, expertise and
leadership during his 29 years as Director of the Suffolk County Office
of Handicapped Services merit the grateful recognition of the people of
Suffolk County, Long Island, and the State of New York and the appreci-
ation of all those who have benefited from its services and advocacy
during his tenure; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Bruce G. Blower upon the occasion of his retirement as Director of
the Suffolk County Office of Handicapped Services and to wish him well
in all his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Bruce G. Blower.