Eastern Long Island Hospital CEO and vice chairman of Peconic Landing’s board of trustees Paul J. Connor was awarded the 2017 Trustee of the Year award last week by LeadingAge New York, a charitable organization focused on education, advocacy and research for the aging.
The award is given to trustees who serve with distinction on the boards of trustees of LeadingAge New York member organizations.
At a ceremony at Peconic Landing in Greenport Thursday, Connor accepted the award on behalf of the Peconic Landing board, saying that no individual board member makes a board effective.
“Like every other not-for-profit board, we are a team,” he said. “We happen to have a very effective team. That effectiveness was part of the reason I received this award. The Peconic Landing board deserves a lot of credit.”
He also acknowledged the contributions of the management and employees at Peconic Landing.
Connor, a long-time member of Peconic Landing’s board of trustees, stepped in to fill the void created by the passing of board chairman John May, who died in 2015 during a critical time in the organization’s $44 million expansion.
Board chairwoman Sandra Novick called Connor’s contributions “immeasurable,” adding that his strength as a leader, his organizational knowledge and his professionalism sets him apart.
ELIH board chairman Tom Murray spoke of Connor’s significant contribution of time and effort.
“It’s more than duly appropriate that you receive this award,” said Murray. “You certainly deserve it.”
Jim Klein, president and CEO of LeadingAge New York called Connor “one of the good guys.”
Bob Syron, Peconic Landing’s president and CEO, thanked Connor for “stepping up to the plate” during a difficult time and added, “The members of our community and retirees across the North Fork should feel very confident knowing that Paul Connor is on their side.”
