Berkshire South Gala 'Celebrating a Hero' in Robin McGraw
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire South Regional Community Center is recognizing Robin McGraw at its "Celebrating a Hero" gala on Aug. 18.
Both McGraw and his wife, Elizabeth "Buzz" Hayes, continue to generously support many human services, health care, educational and medical research organizations and initiatives.
He serves on the board of trustees of Volunteers in Medicine, Berkshire Healthcare Systems, HospiceCare in the Berkshires, Mystic (Conn.) Seaport Museum and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that inducted him into its Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2015. Most recently, he has brought his energy and commitment to addressing the Berkshire County drug epidemic through his work with the Berkshire County sheriff's opioid task force.
Gala organizers say he lives each day in the spirit of community, inspiring all to help make their community a better place to live.
McGraw, who grew up in New Jersey, first came to the Berkshires in 1966 to attend Berkshire School in Sheffield.
In addition to other athletic and scholastic achievements, he is most proud of being a member of the school's first New England championship soccer team. He has maintained a decades-long volunteer relationship with Berkshire School in a variety of capacities.
He graduated in 1976 from the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he was the co-captain of the Fencing Team, which led him to France to compete with the best fencers in the world and to achieve his goal of making the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team.
Unfortunately, world politics got in the way when the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics. McGraw completed his master of science in education and sports administration, in France, before returning to the United States. Teaching and community service became his passions. First, teaching French and science in New Jersey and, true to his commitment to sports and the outdoors, he coached varsity soccer and tennis while running the school's Outdoor Education Program.
Then, in 1990, McGraw returned to briefly teach at Berkshire School, while becoming a member of the Egremont Fire Department and completing his training as a technician in wilderness emergency medical and in high-angle rescue. He went back to school in 1994 to become a paramedic and worked full time as a paramedic, becoming a supervisor and training officer. Through 2010, he was a tactical paramedic with the state police search and rescue team.
"Two things have driven me," he said. "I want to know that I have been a good husband and father and I need to know that I have endeavored to make a positive difference in someone's life. That is why I became a teacher and paramedic."
Berkshire South Regional Community Center is recognizing and thanking McGraw at the gala for his leadership and commitment to achieving the center's goal of bringing our community together and improving the lives of our residents.
The celebration is Thursday, Aug. 18, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Berkshire South, 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington. Tickets are $150 per person with proceeds to benefit the community center. Information on sponsorships are also here.
Tags: berkshire south community center, fundraiser, gala,
