LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring E. Richard and Catherine O'Shea upon the
occasion of their designation by Saint Francis Hospital and Health
Centers as the recipients of a 2011 Franciscan Award on April 30, 2011

WHEREAS, Individuals who distinguish themselves in their profession and
in service to their community are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, E. Richard and Catherine O'Shea have given not only of their
time and energies but also of their competence, intelligence, and lead-
ership and consequently have been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor E. Richard and
Catherine O'Shea upon the occasion of their designation by Saint Francis
Hospital and Health Centers as the recipients of a 2011 Franciscan
Award; and
WHEREAS, The Franciscan Award is the highest award bestowed by Saint
Francis Hospital and Health Centers of Poughkeepsie, New York; it is
given to individuals whose lives have mirrored the spirit of selfless
giving exemplified by Saint Francis of Assisi and whose unwavering dedi-
cation and service enhance the quality of life in the Hudson Valley; and
WHEREAS, E. Richard and Catherine O'Shea will be presented with this
most prestigious award at the 30th Annual Franciscan Award Gala to be
held at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie on Saturday, April 30, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A couple of singular distinction, E. Richard and Catherine
O'Shea have been called upon to contribute their time and talents to
countless endeavors and have always given of themselves unstintingly;
and
WHEREAS, Together, Cathy and Dick O'Shea have devoted more than 40
years to Saint Francis Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Starting as a volunteer, Cathy O'Shea, a retired history
teacher, has been employed in the Pastoral Care Department since 1985;
she also continues to give back to the Saint Francis community by chair-
ing the Sister Ann Elizabeth Employee Assistance Fund, a fund for
employees who are in need of financial assistance due to crisis with
which she has been involved since its inception; and
WHEREAS, Dick O'Shea has been a Trustee of Saint Francis Hospital
since 1995; President of First Mortgage Corp., he continues to also give
to Saint Francis by chairing the Saint Francis Home Care Board of Trus-
tees, as well as by serving on the hospital's Investment Committee; and
WHEREAS, Dick and Cathy O'Shea have been married for 50 years; they
are the proud parents of three children and have nine treasured grand-
children; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others as that demonstrated by E. Richard and Cathe-
rine O'Shea; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the
edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor E. Richard and Catherine O'Shea upon the occasion of their desig-
nation by Saint Francis Hospital and Health Centers as the recipients of
a 2011 Franciscan Award on April 30, 2011; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to E. Richard and Catherine O'Shea.