LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Gordon Hazel, distinguished
citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Hazel, a community leader who fought vigorously for
the underprivileged, died on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at the age of
62; and
WHEREAS, Born on March 9, 1947, in Massena, New York, Gordon Hazel was
the beloved son of Gordon J. Hazel Sr. and Marion (Mousseau) Hazel; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Hazel graduated from Massena Central High School in
1965 and from SUNY Canton in 1968; while a student at Canton, he was a
member of Alpha Theta Gamma Fraternity and president of the class of
1968; and
WHEREAS, Following graduation, Gordon Hazel was employed for 20 years
as an accountant with Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Corpo-
ration in Massena, New York; and
WHEREAS, When the plant closed, Gordon Hazel and his family moved to
Plattsburgh, New York, where he accepted the position as Executive
Director of Clinton County's Community Action Agency, the Joint Council
for Economic Opportunity (JCEO), a position he proudly held for 18
years; and
WHEREAS, As the Executive Director of JCEO, Gordon Hazel was instru-
mental in expanding the organization so that it could provide more
programs to low-income families, some of which included the White Pine
Commons, Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start, and food shelves;
and
WHEREAS, White Pine Commons, his most notable project, was a work-
force-housing development on Wallace Hill Road in the Town of Platts-
burgh that opened in 2008, shortly before he retired; and
WHEREAS, The project faced many obstacles; however, Gordon Hazel was
undeterred and stood tall in the midst of criticisms and saw the project
through to fruition; today, White Pine Commons is a neatly kept neigh-
borhood of 16 houses, serving 32 local families; and
WHEREAS, Under Gordon Hazel's able leadership, JCEO not only grew but
thrived and, most importantly, the variety and quantity of services
provided to Clinton County residents grew significantly; on October 15,
2009, the JCEO Board of Directors and senior management staff honored
him by dedicating the Community Building at White Pine Commons to him;
and
WHEREAS, Despite his busy professional life, Gordon Hazel served on
many Boards of Directors, including the Clinton Community College Foun-
dation Board, Work Force Investment Board and the New York State Commu-
nity Action Association Board of Directors, where he served as vice
president for four years and president for two years; in 2001, he was
named Administrator of the Year by the New York State Community Action
Association at the annual dinner in Rochester; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Gordon Hazel was a member of the Knights of
Columbus, Plattsburgh Elks Lodge and Sunrise Rotary; he served as presi-
dent of Sunrise Rotary in 1997, and in 2001 was named a Paul Harris
Fellow; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Hazel was also a member of the United Way Campaign
Team for seven years, serving on various committees; he chaired the 2004
United Way Campaign that successfully met and surpassed its annual
campaign goal; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of his efforts of in-depth magnitude, Gordon
Hazel was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades; he was named
the 50th Irishman of the Year at the annual Irishman of the Year Break-
fast on March 17, 2008, and he was also designated the Dorothy and Alan
Booth Citizen of the Year by the United Way of Clinton and Essex Coun-
ties in February of 2009; and
WHEREAS, A man of great faith, Gordon Hazel was a devoted member of
St. Peter's Catholic Church and served on the Parish Council; and
WHEREAS, The consummate gentleman, Gordon Hazel was not only a mentor
but a friend, who made a tremendous impact in the lives of countless
individuals; Clinton County is a better place for having had him in its
midst and its residents will forever endeavor to follow in his foot-
steps; and
WHEREAS, Gordon Hazel is survived by his wife of 41 years, Kathleen
Hazel; two sons, Marc and David; daughter-in-law, Talitha (Atchison)
Hazel; two grandsons, Koby and Dylan; his parents, Gordon and Marion
Hazel of Massena; a brother, Richard, and his wife, Sherry; a sister,
Joanie; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews;
and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Gordon Hazel leaves behind
a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a
comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Gordon Hazel, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Gordon Hazel.