LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Yono and Donna Purnomo upon the occasion
of their designation as recipients of the Third Age Achievement Award in
Business by Senior Services of Albany

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain
extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their valued
contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Yono and Donna
Purnomo upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the
Third Age Achievement Award in Business by Senior Services of Albany, to
be celebrated at its 20th Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 6, 2016,
at Wolferts Roost Country Club, Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, Senior Services of Albany was founded in 1952, to serve the
needs of the elderly and their caregivers in the greater Albany area;
since its inception, the agency has focused its mission on enhancing
quality of life and fostering independence for seniors in the Capital
Region; and
WHEREAS, The Third Age Achievement Awards are designed to pay tribute
to members of the Capital Region who have made significant contributions
to our communities in their "third age"; the award seeks to dispel the
myth that getting older always means slowing down and highlights the
activities, achievements and creativity of individuals over the age of
60; and
WHEREAS, The 60-plus stage of life can be a time full of opportunities
to enrich our communities, pursue dreams, and provide leadership; the
Third Age Achievement Awards honor individuals who have excelled in all
of these endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Yono and Donna Purnomo have been well-known in the greater
Albany area since they met on a cruise ship in the mid-1970s; Donna is
from Amsterdam, New York, and Yono grew up in Indonesia; and
WHEREAS, After the couple married in 1978, they settled in Albany,
working in the restaurant industry; for several years Yono worked at the
Albany restaurant, Twenty-One, and during this time, the owner offered
the Purnomo's a chance to take over the restaurant; they enthusi-
astically accepted; and
WHEREAS, Yono and Donna Purnomo worked hard building the business for
several years before tragedy struck in 1985, and the restaurant burned
down; this was a turning point for the Purnomo's, inspiring them to open
up their own original restaurant, Yono's, serving a unique blend of
continental and Indonesian dishes; and
WHEREAS, With Yono and Donna Purnomo's hard work and steadfast dedi-
cation, Yono's quickly became a success, thriving as a prestigious
restaurant where locals could wine and dine; the couple moved the
restaurant to its current location on Chapel Street, during which time
their son opened up, dp An American Brasserie within Yono's; and
WHEREAS, Yono and Donna Purnomo continue to work daily at Yono's,
which remains a huge success and a true landmark of the Albany communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Currently, Yono and Donna Purnomo are the founding Chairs of
the Albany Wine Fest, a charitable event which has raised substantial
funds to benefit the non-profit arts community, donating the proceeds to

organizations such as The Palace Theater, Capital Repertory Theatre, and
Park Playhouse, among others; and
WHEREAS, With them throughout have been their two children and their
grandchildren, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of their lives
and rejoice in their achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Yono and Donna Purnomo have
displayed throughout their lives; 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, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Yono and Donna Purnomo upon the occasion of their designation as
recipients of the Third Age Achievement Award in Business by Senior
Services of Albany; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Yono and Donna Purnomo.