May 25, 2012
Edward J. Gray, recipient of the WNYAHSA Meritorious Service Award, with his wife Nancy, Kevin O'Neill from WGRZ-TV who served as the MC for the event, and Tammy Schmidt, WNYAHSA President. Schofield Residence President Edward J. Gray received the Western New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (WNYAHSA) Meritorious Service Award at their Annual Banquet on May 9. This award, the organization's highest honor, is designed to recognize industry leaders who have undertaken a leadership role in the field of long term care. "Without Edward J. Gray it is hard to imagine the Schofield Residence surviving the changes the last 38 years have brought in the long term care field," said Laura Mondello, Schofield's Director of Community Relations & Volunteer Services. "His dedicated leadership, financial acumen and commitment to providing needed health services for elders and disabled individuals has guided Schofield, and enriched our community." Mr. Gray began his career in long term care at Schofield, then called the Wheel Chair Home, when he was appointed as Business Manager in 1974. He was appointed Administrator of the Wheel Chair Home in March 1977 and held that position until June 1987, when he was promoted to President. He continues in that position and also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Schofield Home Health Care Services and Executive Director of the Schofield Foundation. Throughout his years at Schofield, Mr. Gray was the guiding force behind: Schofield's move from the old Wheel Chair Home, located at Delaware and Kenmore Avenues; Several capital campaigns, including the initial construction and subsequent expansion, of the Schofield Residence Nursing Facility in the 1980's; Schofield's expansion into community-based services that included Schofield's Long Term Home Health Care Program in 1985 and Adult Day Health Care Program in 1987; The addition of Schofield Home Health Care Services, an affiliated licensed home health care services agency, to Schofield's array of services in 1996; Expansion of Schofield's Long Term Home Health Care Program in 2006, and its Adult Day Health Care Program expansion and move to Sheehan Health Network in 2007. This expansion created the largest Adult Day Health Care Program in Upstate New York with the capacity to serve over 200 clients. Me. Gray has a long history of professional and community service having served on the New York State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators, New York State Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (now Leading Age New York) Board of Directors, Western New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Board of Directors and Ad hoc advisory committees for several other long term care organizations. He has also been an active member of the Rotary Club of Kenmore from 1985 to the present. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Economics from the University at Buffalo.