At their council meeting Oct. 17, Lower Saucon Township unanimously approved separate resolutions to honor two individuals for their dedication to the community in service to the Saucon Valley Community Center.
The Saucon Valley Community Center is located at 323 Northampton Street in Hellertown.
According to the first resolution, Erin (Siegfried) Stone graduated from Belvidere High School in Warren County, N.J., where she participated in many sports and activities including field hockey, swimming, karate, track and softball. Erin was also the vice president of student council in her senior year and was a member of the homecoming court.
She then attended Susquehanna University and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in psychology and sociology. Stone also developed a love for working with children and worked during the summers as a lifeguard and counselor at a camp that served children with special needs.
Former Saucon Valley Community Center executive director Erin (Siegfried) Stone stands outside the center during a BB&T-sponsored playground refurbishment project this year. (FILE PHOTO)
Erin began working part-time in the school-age program at the Saucon Valley Community Center in 2002. She began full-time employment there in 2003 and was appointed Co-Executive Director. In 2013, she assumed the role of Executive Director.
She also continued her studies and graduated summa cum laude from East Stroudsburg University in 2017 with a B.S. in early childhood education.
During her time with the community center–which provides childcare services and offers community programs–Erin held memberships with PENN SACCA, Children’s Coalition of the Lehigh Valley and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
She also organized silent auction fundraisers, an annual ice cream festival, fishing and golf tournaments and movie nights at the community center, which earned a Star 4 designation–the highest accreditation awarded by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development & Early Learning’s Keystone Stars program–under her leadership.
Stone, who recently left the SVCC in order to work closer to her home in Bucks County, enjoys spending time with her husband traveling, skiing and dining out, taking walks with her puppy, Penny, and conquering escape rooms with family and friends.
According to the second resolution, the late Walter “Walt” Morrissey served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Saucon Valley Community Center for 17 years and was a contributing member of the community center.
Morrissey, 70, died May 22 at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem following an extended illness, according to his obituary published in July.
A Vermont native, Walt always had a keen wit and was a passionate sportsman, according to the resolution. He was a well-known, engaged citizen who was self-motivated and reliant, and during his life he relentlessly strived to do his best in each endeavor he undertook, from delivering newspapers as a boy to working for his father’s construction company to becoming a successful attorney, first for Bethlehem Steel and later in private practice in Bethlehem.
Walter loved to read, which allowed him to acquire knowledge at an early age.
His greatest legacy and source of pride was his three children and his grandson, whose accomplishments he held in high esteem and to whom he would always offer words of encouragement.
The two resolutions will be presented to Erin Stone and Walter Morrissey’s family at the Saucon Valley Community Center’s annual banquet, which will be held Friday, Nov. 9 at Se-Wy-Co Fire Company Social Hall.
