SUNBURY -- The Sunbury Rotary Club has named Bob Lagerman the city's Citizen of the Year.
"I was shocked," Lagerman said, "and naturally pleased at the same time. It's really an honor."
Lagerman is the president of the Hill Neighborhood Council, a group that for the past several years has been working to revitalize that portion of the city.
It's a community Lagerman, 72, has called home for more than 40 years.
He and his wife, Doris, raised their family at their 1290 Market St. home, one of the first to be built in that area in 1905.
Lagerman, a history buff and retired social studies teacher, has owned the one-time farmhouse longer than any other owner before him, testament to the fact that he loves his community, even though he's a transplant.
Lagerman grew up just outside of Trevorton.
"I remember as a kid driving into town, a canopy of trees on both sides of Market Street," he said. "I'd like to see it restored to some semblance of what it was."
Lagerman started attending meetings of the Sunbury City Visions Project seven years ago.
"I missed the first meeting, but I haven't missed a meeting since," he said.
City Visions grew into the Hill Neighborhood Council, and Lagerman pitched in, helping with community yard sales, landscaping, community events and banners that set the neighborhood apart from others in the city until he was named the council's president in 2006.
"My grandfather owned greenhouses, so I guess you could say I grew up with a green thumb," Lagerman said. "I want to see the Hill Neighborhood beautiful. I want to see the city beautiful."
It's Lagerman's dedication that caught the eye of the Sunbury Rotary Club, which this year took over the Sunbury Citizen of the Year Award from the American Legion.
"We felt that he was an outstanding example of people who have volunteered to help the city of Sunbury," said Donald Kamsler, of Rotary.
In addition to his work for the city, Lagerman, a former Bloomburg University fullback, coached football at the Shikellamy High School for more than 20 years and high school baseball for 30 years.
An Air Force veteran, Lagerman is a pilot who enjoys renting a Cessna for the afternoon and taking a ride.
"I still pinch myself whenever the wheels come off the ground," Lagerman said.
Retired from the Shikellamy School District since 1996, Lagerman said he needs stuff to do, so he'll continue with the Hill Neighborhood Council, which plans to do more landscaping in the future, install new lighting and improve residential facades.
"I want to see the world a better place, and in particular, the Hill Neighborhood a better place," Lagerman said. "I think we have a long way to go, but we're going to get there."
The Lagermans have three grown children and seven grandchildren.
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Rotary club lauds Hill Council president
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