Irwin Penzel of Plainview has been named Nassau County Senior Citizen of the Year for 1999. The award will be conferred on Mr. Penzel by Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta on May 7 at the 25th Annual May Luncheon/Conference sponsored by the Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs at the Long Island Marriott Hotel in Uniondale.

Nominated by the Senior Adult Club of St. Ignatius in Hicksville where he has been a director since 1986, Mr. Penzel was cited for his selfless devotion to community involvement, which has enhanced the quality of life for Nassau County residents of all ages. The panel of judges represented the towns and cities in Nassau County, the Long Island Coalition for the Aging, media, active senior volunteers, and members of the advisory council to the Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs.

Mr. Penzel, born and raised in Brooklyn, is a veteran of World War II who served in Europe and Asia in the Navy Amphibious Forces. He and Harriet, his wife of 51 years, moved to Levittown in 1953 and have lived in Plainview since 1959. They have two sons who are both married and raising families on Long Island. He has spent much of his lifetime working on behalf of young people. He was active in Scouting for many years, serving local troops as Cubmaster and Scoutmaster and chairing the health and safety committee for the Nassau County Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Under the GI Bill, Mr. Penzel received an undergraduate degree in health education from Cortland State Teachers' College and a masters in public health from Columbia College for Physicians and Surgeons. He also earned a second masters in general education from the State University at New Paltz. He began with a career in public health, and switched to education when he came to Long Island, retiring in 1985 from the Plainview schools after a long career teaching health education to junior high school students. After his retirement, he spent several years teaching the required health education course at the Hicksville evening high school. Active in the teacher's union, he was a state delegate to the National Education Association convention for many years. Still interested in working for the best in education for young people, he helped to organize a retirees' committee and represents them on the union board.

Mr. Penzel, a tireless representative and advocate for the members of the Senior Adult Club of St. Ignatius and all Nassau County seniors, has traveled often to Albany to lobby on important issues affecting older adults. He serves on the Bi-County Alliance for Senior Clubs and the Long Island Coalition for the Aging. He serves on the advisory committee of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and is a frequent volunteer at the Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hicksville. As a trained Ombudsperson, he served as a patient advocate for the needs of frail elderly residents at a local skilled nursing facility. Currently a member of the Nassau County Legislative Technical Advisory Committee, he has been especially involved with the Education Sub-Committee, studying issues involving school financing and administration.

Mr. Penzel enjoys the activities of his Senior Adult Club and is proud of the many accomplishments of his sons, daughters-in-law and three grandchildren, all of whom will be present when he receives his award as the 1999 Nassau County Senior Citizen of the Year on May 7.

The Annual Senior Citizen Month Luncheon-Conference begins with registration at 9 a.m. The program, "Celebrating the Nassau County Centennial: A Century of Caring," includes three workshops, each offered at 9:30 a.m. and repeated at 10:45 a.m. The senior citizen combo, "The Golden Tones" will entertain in the outdoor tent from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m., where special centennial exhibits will be set up. A visit from Nassau County resident and former President Theodore Roosevelt is anticipated! Luncheon follows in the grand ballroom, after which featured guest speaker Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta will present Mr. Penzel as the Nassau County Senior Citizen of the Year. Tickets are $25 each. Reservations are required, and tables for 10 may be reserved. For more information or a reservation, call the Department of Senior Citizen Affairs at 572-0800.