LAFAYETTE, N.Y. — Ichor Life Sciences, based in LaFayette, has completed its acquisition of Woodland Biosciences, Inc. of Massachusetts. The in-vivo services for the study
LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Naturally Lewis has launched its DBA Lewis County pilot program, which it says was created to “inspire and guide” entrepreneurs doing business
CICERO, N.Y. — Gaylord Archival, located at 7282 William Barry Blvd. in Cicero, has several projects it’s focusing on to support its growth in the year ahead. “We’re renovating our offices to maximize productivity by creating a combination of quiet workspaces and collaboration areas,” Jim Burke, president of Gaylord Archival, tells CNYBJ in an email
CICERO, N.Y. — Gaylord Archival, located at 7282 William Barry Blvd. in Cicero, has several projects it’s focusing on to support its growth in the year ahead.
“We’re renovating our offices to maximize productivity by creating a combination of quiet workspaces and collaboration areas,” Jim Burke, president of Gaylord Archival, tells CNYBJ in an email message. “In addition, conference rooms will be updated with state-of-the-art technology to optimize engagement with customers, suppliers, and industry partners.”
The firm is also adding about 10,000 square feet of manufacturing space, investing in equipment, and hiring new co-workers to help support its new product-development initiatives, Burke adds.
In addition, the company president says Gaylord is making “significant” investments in computer infrastructure that will modernize its business platforms and result in an “enhanced customer experience” when the project is completed in 2023.
And when asked about Gaylord’s goals for 2022, Burke describes them as “business transformation” and “innovation.”
“Gaylord has a rich and deep history of inventing products that solve problems our customers face as they preserve our collective culture and history. We are building on our strong foundation, ensuring that we develop new products that meet the challenges of today and tomorrow,” Burke says. “We’ve become a nimbler organization as we transformed from a print centric ‘catalogue’ company to a digital first company.”
He also notes that Gaylord continues to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Company employees have successfully modified processes and procedures to protect themselves, coworkers, vendors, and customers.
He went to say that Gaylord Archival is “humbled and honored” to be considered a CNY Legend.
“We’re a small, but mighty, company serving the needs of museums, archives, and libraries nationwide. Over the decades, we’ve evolved with our customers, always serving them from our home base [near] Syracuse. With the investments we’re making in people, processes and technology, we’re looking forward to another 125 years of growth and innovation in the CNY community,” says Burke.
CICERO — At the end of the 19th century, Willis E. Gaylord and his younger brother, Henry Jay (H. Jay), were employed as bookkeepers at Syracuse Savings Bank. Part of their clerical jobs was to repair torn paper currency. The common repair was simply to pin the torn pieces of paper together using straight pins,
CICERO — At the end of the 19th century, Willis E. Gaylord and his younger brother, Henry Jay (H. Jay), were employed as bookkeepers at Syracuse Savings Bank. Part of their clerical jobs was to repair torn paper currency. The common repair was simply to pin the torn pieces of paper together using straight pins, which proved to be dangerous to one’s fingers when grabbing a stack of the mended bills. Willis and H. Jay thought they could create a different, and less hazardous, means of restoring the currency. Their solution eventually led to establishing one of the largest library and archival preservation supply industries in the United States.
So, in 1896, the two Gaylord brothers, desiring to augment their modest bank salaries, began repairing the bank’s torn bills at home as a fledging side business. They first attempted to repair the currency with a pre-glued tissue paper instead of pins, but this endeavor failed due to the tissue’s flimsy composition. They then consulted with a wholesale paper business, Henry Lindenmeyer & Sons of New York City, and learned that transparent parchment paper might prove to be more durable. However, when the brothers tried to order the parchment paper from Lindenmeyer, company officials rejected their request until they paid for the paper upfront. Only after Willis and H. Jay sent $2 in advance did Lindenmeyer ship the paper to Syracuse. The brothers successfully mended the currency with this new paper. They soon exhausted their supply and ordered more, but the company refused to sell them more paper until they again paid in advance. The Gaylord brothers had to pay in advance a few more times until they finally established business credit with Lindenmeyer.
The brothers also made their own, more reliable, adhesive. Before long, they created their own pre-glued, transparent currency mending paper. Repairing the damaged currency using their product worked well and the brothers recorded their first profit of $6 on Sept. 1, 1896.
As a marketing strategy, Willis and H. Jay packaged together 24 sheets of their pre-glued mending paper, along with a note extolling its advantages, and sent the packages to several banks. Just 10 days after establishing their nascent business, the brothers received their first order from the Bowery Savings Bank of New York, the largest savings bank in the U.S., amounting to $0.35.
Soon, their side business consumed more of their time. They made the adhesive paper on their 90-minute lunch hour and at night after work. They then mailed those orders at the post office, while picking up any new orders. The brothers soon added pre-glued currency straps and coin wrappers to their inventory.
Only after about one month in business, the Gaylord brothers received an inquiry from a librarian: Could they cut the adhesive paper into strips to aid in repairing books? The brothers quickly obliged the request and, in effect, created yet another inventory item: pre-glued book-repair parchment. Using the same advertising method as they had used for banks, the brothers sent packages of pre-glued paper strips to libraries and promoted their newly fabricated book-repair paper. Soon afterward, schools inquired about their pre-glued paper and were added to their client lists.
As business steadily increased, the Gaylord brothers moved from their humble basement workshop in 1903 to two small rooms in the Third National Bank Building, located at 108 South Salina St. That same year, the brothers listed Gaylord Brothers as a separate business in the Syracuse City Directory. In 1904, they listed their company as selling office supplies and, in 1905, they first advertised as selling school supplies.
A priest at Canisius College in Buffalo, inquired if the brothers could make a pre-glued binder cover for printed pamphlets. Willis and H. Jay sent to the priest a sample binder cover, which he liked and ordered 100 more. The brothers decided to patent their pamphlet binder cover and it became one of their most popular library products.
The year 1908 was a turning point for Gaylord Brothers. That year, Syracuse Savings Bank’s new president discovered the brothers’ side hustle and gave them an ultimatum: give it up or leave the bank. Considering their future, they pursued the business. H. Jay left the bank on March 1, 1908, devoting all his time to the business; that year they created the first product catalog, and grossed $23,000 in sales. Almost all of the products were created as a result of librarians’ requests. Willis left the bank on Dec. 1, 1909, to join his brother full-time in their library and school-supply business. Until 1910, Gaylord Brothers made and sold both bank and library supplies. However, library-supply orders soon outnumbered bank orders, so the brothers eliminated the bank products and concentrated solely on library products.
Gaylord Brothers printed its first customer newsletter, Gaylord’s Triangle Newsletter, in September 1921, commemorating the company’s 25th anniversary. The Triangle offered librarians tips on how to use the products, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses of Gaylord Brothers, and showcased libraries around the U.S. The monthly publication offered information on how customers could better utilize existing products and introduced new products.
Gaylord Brothers constructed a new three-story building at 155 Gifford St. in Syracuse in 1922. The company also began to ship library products in easily recognizable bright orange boxes with black letters.
With business greatly increasing, Gaylord Brothers opened a western office and factory in Stockton, California on New Year’s Day in 1926. That same year, Alfred H. Gaylord, H. Jay’s son, joined the business upon graduating from Syracuse University. He immediately joined his father and uncle — managing the company as its VP, while his father served as president. H. Jay assigned Alfred to manage the company’s new western facility in California, where he stayed for three years before returning to Syracuse.
The brothers announced their company’s business incorporation as Gaylord Brothers, Inc. in the Syracuse Herald newspaper in February 1927. The Herald declared that the incorporated company issued $300,000 in common stock, along with $100,000 in preferred stock, which was exclusively held by the two brothers. The article noted that Gaylord Brothers had grown from a small mail-order business to a large manufacturer of school and library supplies with a market throughout the United States. The article also noted that Willis Gaylord would retire that March.
Willis sold his company interest to H. Jay and retired on March 1, 1927, at age 62. Prior to his retirement, Willis Gaylord had been ranked among the more prominent and successful businessmen in Syracuse despite not finishing high school, nor graduating from college. In conjunction with his business affairs, Willis was active in civic and social matters. He was a member of the Syracuse Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Bellevue Country Club, the Citizens Club, the Syracuse Rotary Club, the F&AM Lodge No. 955 in Salina, and was active in the Park Central Presbyterian Church. Willis married Blanche Hutchins on Nov. 19, 1891, and had no children. Willis Gaylord died on April 30, 1943, at age 78 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse.
In 1930, Gaylord Brothers introduced one of its most significant products: the Model C Book Charger, one of the first automated book-circulation machines. The book charger stamped library-book numbers and return dates on book cards, effectively eliminating indecipherable patron handwriting. Gaylord’s book charger provided libraries across the U.S. with an economical means of controlling their book circulation. Used by libraries for many years, the book charger was made obsolete by computers.
During the Great Depression, Gaylord Brothers promoted good health habits to its employees by inviting the Onondaga Health Association to speak on various health topics at monthly meetings. The topics included eating healthy foods, as well as proper tooth care and personal hygiene.
In 1949, another unfortunate milestone event occurred when Alfred passed away at the young age of 44. He had four children with his wife, Mary, who all survived him. Alfred fulfilled his civic obligations by serving as a member of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, the Syracuse Rotary Club, and the F&AM Lodge No. 955 in Salina. Alfred also worshiped at Park Central Presbyterian Church, and he enjoyed participating in a variety of water sports. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Alfred’s death left his father, H. Jay, as the sole surviving member of the Gaylord family in management of the business that he founded with his brother.
Gaylord Brothers introduced Magic Mend, the first glue for repairing book bindings and other materials, in 1952; it is now known as PH Neutral Adhesive. Other company progress included advancing the SE-LIN Labeling System and fabricating the first sloped book truck, and other library-circulation furniture.
Henry Jay Gaylord passed away in March 1955 at age 82. Unlike Willis, H. Jay completed high school, but similarly to his older brother, he did not attend college. In September 1897, H. Jay married Cora Hinsdale and they had two children: Alfred and Alice. H. Jay was also involved in civic and social organizations such as the Syracuse Citizens Club, the Syracuse Rotary Club, and the Masons. Like other family members, he worshiped at Park Central Presbyterian Church. At his passing, Henry left the company in control of Marion Stafford, who managed Gaylord Brothers for almost another 20 years, before retiring in 1973.
By 1968, Gaylord Brothers had completed a 205,000-square-foot building expansion on Morgan Road in Clay. Croydon Company, a holding company owned by Morris Bergreen and Martin Blackman, bought Gaylord Brothers in 1974. Soon after purchasing Gaylord Brothers, Bergreen developed Gaylord Information Systems (GIS), the company’s computer-based automation division and a pioneer in early computerized automation systems. Its first integrated library system was the Gaylord System 100, which interacted between individual libraries and a mainframe computer located at Gaylord. A contemporary company publication described the new GIS division as “[bringing] the speed, accuracy, and magic of computers to libraries; enhancing service, saving money, and providing high levels of information detail which were impossible to procure heretofore.” In 1997, Gaylord introduced the Polaris Integrated Library System, which could provide computer support for more than 100 concurrent libraries.
In 1990, the Syracuse Herald Journal newspaper described Gaylord Brothers as the General Motors Corp. of the library supplies industry. At the time, Gaylord was striving to become not only the largest library supplies company but also was speeding along the information highway with their computerized storage and data-retrieval systems.
Gaylord Brothers also began to advance into the archival-preservation supplies market by forming a preservation advisory committee comprised of preservation professionals whose responsibility was to develop preservation and conservation products. Gaylord published an archival-products catalog in 1992 that focused on providing libraries and museums with products to care for archival material and museum objects.
Wall Family Enterprise (WFE) acquired Gaylord Brothers in 2003. WFE also owns other companies, such as DEMCO, a onetime Gaylord competitor, which focus on serving educational and cultural organizations. Although once operating facilities in California, Maryland, and North Carolina, Gaylord is now only located in Central New York.
In 2005, Gaylord Brothers moved from its Clay location to a new office and factory on William Barry Boulevard in Cicero. Gaylord makes many of its archival boxes, file folders, sleeves, and binders at this factory location. Since 2010, Gaylord also has offered an array of museum-display cases. As the demand for traditional library products has decreased, the market for museum-preservation material and display cases and furniture has increased. Appropriately, Gaylord has transitioned to meet the needs of this market. In 2015, the company became Gaylord Archival, and now focuses exclusively on making and selling archival products.
Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2021, “the spark of innovation ignited by the Gaylord brothers…burns on as Gaylord Archival blazes new trails to the future. Just imagine where their journey will take them next.”
Thomas Hunter is curator of collections at the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) (www.cnyhistory.org), located at 321 Montgomery St. in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE — Dr. Charles Nicolais, a board-certified cardiologist who recently completed advanced coronary and structural heart interventional training, has joined the Cardiovascular Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. Nicolais grew up in Syracuse and attended Westhill High School, according to a St. Joseph’s Health news release. Before joining St. Joseph’s Health, Nicolais completed a
SYRACUSE — Dr. Charles Nicolais, a board-certified cardiologist who recently completed advanced coronary and structural heart interventional training, has joined the Cardiovascular Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse.
Nicolais grew up in Syracuse and attended Westhill High School, according to a St. Joseph’s Health news release.
Before joining St. Joseph’s Health, Nicolais completed a two-year interventional and structural cardiology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). The training included basic interventional cardiology, as well as complex coronary-artery interventions and structural heart interventions including TAVR, mitra-clip, watchman, and PFO closure, St. Joseph’s Health said.
TAVR is short for Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve with a man-made valve, per the website of Johns Hopkins Medicine. PFO is short for patent foramen ovale, a hole in the heart that didn’t close the way it should after birth, per the website of the Mayo Clinic.
Prior to UPMC, Nicolais spent three years training at Temple University in a cardiovascular medicine fellowship, which included clinical and research experience on cardiovascular diseases. He also served as chief fellow in his third year.
Nicolais is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine, and interventional cardiology. He also holds board certifications from the National Board of Echocardiography and the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wagner College on Staten Island and his medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Nicolais completed his internal-medicine residency at Temple University, where he served as chief resident in 2016, per the release.
St. Joseph’s Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary of continuous medical care in Syracuse and Onondaga County in 2019. Founded by the sisters of the Third Franciscan Order, the hospital first opened its doors on May 6, 1869. The sisters had recently purchased a brick saloon and dance hall on Prospect Hill (Prospect Avenue) for $12,000 with
St. Joseph’s Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary of continuous medical care in Syracuse and Onondaga County in 2019. Founded by the sisters of the Third Franciscan Order, the hospital first opened its doors on May 6, 1869. The sisters had recently purchased a brick saloon and dance hall on Prospect Hill (Prospect Avenue) for $12,000 with plans to convert it into a medical facility, thereby establishing the first hospital in Onondaga County.
These dedicated and ambitious women started their hospital with 15 beds and no money. One week later, on May 13th, they welcomed their first patient, eventually caring for fifty-three additional people in their first year. The Franciscan Sisters welcomed all patients to the hospital regardless of “creed, race or color.”
Since its founding in 1869, St. Joseph’s Hospital (now part of the St. Joseph’s Health regional health system and a member of Trinity Health) has significantly impacted the social, economic, and architectural composition of its Prospect Avenue neighborhood, the city of Syracuse, and Onondaga County.
In the early days of the hospital, the sisters went to their local neighbors asking for monetary assistance and held an annual Donation Day to help defray their costs. Grocers supplied dried prunes and coffee, and farmers gave potatoes, eggs, and firewood. Individual citizens also gave cake, bread, ham, fish, fresh fruit, vegetables, and wine, as well as shoes, clothing, books, and magazines. Others offered towels and medical supplies, while still others repaired and reupholstered the hospital’s furniture. These donations and other acts of kindness were recorded in monthly hospital reports that were published in the Syracuse newspapers. Readers were kept apprised of the efforts put forth by generous and compassionate citizens who contributed to the welfare of sick family, friends, and strangers, and who also lightened the burden of the sisters. In 1969, then-hospital administrator, Sister Wilhelmina, said that for the first 100 years, “St. Joseph’s ha[d] been the recipient of God’s bounty through the generosity of His people, the men and women of Syracuse.”
Those many modest contributions of food, firewood, and other supplies allowed the hospital to become financially solvent and to grow. Hospital administrators added a surgical wing in 1897 that put St. Joseph’s modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, and patient care on par with some of the best American hospitals of the time. The new wing included telephone service and an elevator. The overall appearance of the enlarged, advanced hospital radiated a confidence in Syracuse’s medical facilities.
In October of the following year, the Franciscan sisters began a nursing school dedicated to training lay nurses who would augment the nuns’ ability to care for the community’s patients. By 1900, with the school attracting a growing number of nursing students, administrators were prompted to rent a house in the block just below the hospital to lodge them.
At the beginning of the 20th century, with the improved medical amenities, the influx of better-trained doctors and nurses, and the continued generosity of local businesses and individuals, St. Joseph’s Hospital was able to “minister to suffering humanity even to a greater degree than it ha[d] in the past.”
However, by 1923, part of the original hospital had fallen into disrepair and administrators decided to abandon it. Community leaders established a fund drive to build a new hospital. An initial $326,000 was bequeathed from local estates, and later in 1923 over 18,000 subscribers pledged another $518,000.
On Oct. 18, 1924, Reverend Daniel Curley, Bishop of Syracuse, laid the cornerstone for the new building, with assistance from some Franciscan fathers from Assumption Church. Rabbi Benjamin Friedman of Temple Concord, and Syracuse University Chancellor Charles Flint addressed the assembled crowd at the dedication ceremony. Construction took about 18 months and the new five-story hospital opened on May 25, 1926.
Other fundraising campaigns appealed to the community in December 1947 and January 1948 to raise money to build a five-story, T-shaped, 170-bed addition, as well as replace the original surgical wing built in 1897. Among the fundraising subscribers was the New York Telephone Company, which donated $12,000 to the cause. Reverend Walter Foery, Bishop of Syracuse, broke ground on April 13, 1949. The new $2 million addition opened in November 1950 to rave reviews by hundreds of Syracusans who toured the building. Dr. Arnold Kaufman, president of the hospital staff praised the community for its financial and moral support of St. Joseph’s Hospital over many years. “You have furnished us with a flourishing structure. We will try to do our part to put in it all the resources that kindle the loyalty and affection so many of you have towards us,” Dr. Kaufman said. By this time, the hospital had cared for over 200,000 patients and positioned itself to continue caring for the sick well into the future.
In 1969, St. Joseph’s Hospital celebrated its centennial. The hospital had grown with the community and the community had supported its growth for 100 years. Centennial publications and newspaper articles cited the dedication, compassion, and care that the Franciscan Sisters and hospital staff tendered to thousands of sick and needy people in Syracuse and Onondaga County. They also recounted the physical expansions, the introductions of advanced medical equipment, the continued success of the nursing school, the quality of the physicians and nursing staff, along with the support of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Aid Society and the Women’s Auxiliary. The Sisters’ legacy of mercy given to all in need was persisting, even amid the socio-political tumult of 1969. Speaking at a centennial dinner that May, Reverend Casimir Sabol stated, “[I]t is the human spirit that never changes and makes an institution great. The needs are the same and the essential sense of duty necessary to meet those needs is unchanging.”
More than 50 years later, Rev. Sabol’s sentiment about St. Joseph’s meeting the needs of the community still has not changed. Now known as St. Joseph’s Health Hospital, St. Joseph’s continues to provide a wide variety of community-based health care. It is now associated with the Franciscan Companies, a network providing patients with post-hospital patient care, services, and medical products to ensure their complete healing. St. Joseph’s Health is also a member of Trinity Health, one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health-care systems in the nation, which includes 88 hospitals, 131 continuing-care locations, and more, according to the Trinity Health website.
St. Joseph’s community partnerships include Hospitals Home Health Care and PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in conjunction with Loretto CNY. Since 2007, St. Joseph’s Health Hospital has collaborated with CenterState CEO, Franciscan Collaborative Ministries, and Catholic Charities of Onondaga County on an economic revitalization strategy for Syracuse’s Northside known as Northside UP (Northside Urban Partnership). This collaboration’s mission is to “radically improve the quality of life on the Northside of Syracuse” and is “dedicated to engaging diverse groups of people and organizations in turning the Northside of Syracuse right-side up.” Through economic development and civic improvement projects, the initiative focuses on decreasing unemployment and neighborhood blight by increasing neighborhood-owned businesses and owner-occupied houses, and enhancing the aesthetics and, ultimately, the quality of life for those living and working in Syracuse’s Northside. Northside UP brings the original 19th century Franciscan Sisters’ mission full circle by tending to the needs of the whole person.
From that humble beginning in 1869, to looking ahead throughout the 21st century, St. Joseph’s Health Hospital will undoubtedly continue to search for advanced ways to treat patients while keeping its original mission of extending compassionate care to those in need.
Thomas Hunter is curator of collections at the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) (www.cnyhistory.org), located at 321 Montgomery St. in Syracuse.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — The Children’s Home of Jefferson County (CHJC) has chosen its next executive director. Marianne DiMatteo will begin her duties on Feb. 1,
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse men’s basketball team announced Sunday that its scheduled game with Georgia Tech on Wednesday, Dec. 29 has been postponed and
It is still surreal to think at times that my father, Norm Poltenson, is gone. My dad was always healthy and vibrant. After he retired, anytime I would be out and about in the business community, someone would always ask how my father was doing. I would always say the same thing: “Livin’ the life …. busier
It is still surreal to think at times that my father, Norm Poltenson, is gone. My dad was always healthy and vibrant. After he retired, anytime I would be out and about in the business community, someone would always ask how my father was doing. I would always say the same thing: “Livin’ the life …. busier than ever, doing yoga, baking bread, traveling with my mom, and hiking.” But when my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it became difficult to answer that question.
He dealt with the disease with grace; he never complained, and tried to do whatever he could to prolong his life to be with his family. His physical strength was dissipating but his mental determination was incredible. My father had a wonderful sense of humor which he still maintained in his final days. My respect for him grew even more in these last few months. When my father passed, I can honestly share that he did indeed live his life to the fullest.
He always had three areas that he dedicated his life to: his family, his faith, and his community.
Dad was affectionately known as Saba Nor. Saba stands for grandfather in Hebrew and “nor” is just shortened from Norm because my son Tomer, the first of his 16 grandchildren, couldn’t pronounce it properly. The name then seemed to stick with the rest of the grandchildren. My dad set a wonderful example for his three children and the grandchildren to look up to and emulate. He left us a true legacy.
In temple, he was also known as Nachum, that was his Hebrew name. He was devoted to Judaism, his love of Israel, and learning. He went to shul daily, and he always made time to study. I’m not sure if many people know this but my father had a special gift: his voice. He had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. Many people had mistaken him at times for the cantor at temple because of his incredible and powerful voice. My father was called a mensch — defined as a person of integrity and honor — by everyone he encountered.
In the business community, my father was known as Norm, Uncle Norm, and Dreamer. He gave back to both communities — the Jewish and business community. He did this through philanthropy and donating his time. My father had a huge heart.
He enjoyed helping people by connecting them with others that could be of assistance for either personal or business reasons. Most of the support he provided was done privately; he was never looking for accolades. My father was humble.
My father started The Central New York Business Journal in 1986, and I was able to be part of his dream. He built a business that was trustworthy as he was.
I was blessed with the opportunity to work with my dad. Often, I would be asked by other family businesses what’s it like to work with him? You hear of the many challenges that the 1st and 2nd generation family members have working with each other. I always shared the same story. It was a great experience. He was wonderful to work with, not only because it was a father/daughter relationship but also he was fair, he listened, shared his opinion when asked, and really let me make the decisions — whether they were good or bad.
My father was a dreamer. You may not know that he had a business card with his title of “Dreamer” on it. His business acumen was sharp. He always did his research whether he was writing, speaking at an event, or meeting with someone. He was always well prepared. He worked long hours, was ahead of his time within the publishing and media industry, and made his dream a vital part of the Central New York landscape.
I always observed how my father treated his staff, business colleagues and anyone else he encountered. It was always the same. My father was always respectful and kind.
One of the many lessons that my father taught me was to be sure that I took time for family. Over 20 years ago when I was raising my young children, my father was way ahead of the curve once again in allowing our staff to be flexible with their hours. He knew how important that was. Today, it is almost standard practice. He shared that it didn’t matter if someone worked 9-5, as long as they got the work done.
I’d like to share during my father’s illness, I saw how strong my parents’ love was — my mom’s devotion to him and how incredibly strong she was helping him navigate this horrible disease. I realized that they have a love that will endure forever in this lifetime and the next.
I am blessed to be Norm’s daughter. My father’s legacy will live on forever within my brothers, Meir and Yehoshua, and myself. But most importantly, his legacy will live on with his 16 grandchildren and the great grandchildren to follow.
Marny Nesher is president of The Central New York Business Journal. She has been owner since 2014 and has worked in the business in a variety of different roles since 1994.
Growing up in Central New York, Norm Poltenson spent his summers at Camp Chateaugay in the Adirondacks. After graduating from Nottingham High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University where he participated in the Singing Saints, fraternity life, and other campus organizations. He then went on to continue his education at the University of
Growing up in Central New York, Norm Poltenson spent his summers at Camp Chateaugay in the Adirondacks. After graduating from Nottingham High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University where he participated in the Singing Saints, fraternity life, and other campus organizations.
He then went on to continue his education at the University of Wisconsin where, as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, he completed his master’s degree in history — followed by active duty in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. Even during his army service he made time to study learning German during his two-year stay.
Norm’s summer-camp experiences took him to the Pacific Northwest and throughout the Adirondack Park among other camp travel expeditions. He developed a love of the outdoors and particularly the Adirondack area so when Adirondack Life Magazine became available to buy, it was the perfect entrée to the publishing he dreamed about. His love of books, the outdoors, and history all merged with the 1976 purchase of Adirondack Life.
Starting The Central New York Business Journal in 1986 enabled Norm to complete the dream. Initially, he had a difficult time convincing potential advertisers to talk to him about this new newspaper — after all, there was another one in town and why was this different? Not to be thwarted by the resistance he met, Norm just found new and unique ways to get their attention. Giant stuffed animals, gift baskets, signs, and many other creative methods opened many doors.
When Norm wasn’t working, he was out in the community volunteering, serving on and assuming the leadership of many boards: St. Lawrence University, Syracuse Jewish Federation, Menorah Park Campus Foundation, Menorah Park Campus Nursing Facility, Junior Achievement of CNY, Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, Inter-Religious Council, The Syracuse Hebrew Day School, and Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation.
Even with all his professional and community activities, he found time to increase his knowledge of our faith and bring his family to a higher level of observance. A turning point in Norm’s life was a trip to Israel — taken in the early 1970s, with seven friends. This set a new trajectory that had an impact on everything he did from business to personal relationships.
Each weekday morning, Norm got up at 5 a.m. to study for an hour before morning services and then made an effort to attend services again in the afternoon/evening whenever possible. His beautiful tenor voice was a welcome addition to Shabbat (Sabbath) and holiday services. Each Thursday afternoon, he would set aside an hour to study the weekly Torah portion with his son, who is a rabbi in Israel, encouraging our oldest grandson to join them when possible.
In addition to the twice-yearly trips to visit family (and wineries) in Israel, he loved to travel especially to explore the natural beauty and wildlife of wherever we went. Whether on Safari, in the Central American jungle, the American West, or the Adirondack Mountains, he found great pleasure in being outdoors.
Norm was an involved father and grandfather, teaching his two sons, mentoring his daughter, and finding great joy in storytelling, “from his head,” to his many grandchildren.
He supported them in their decisions and he supported his wife in hers. He was well rounded, loving, and loved by family and friends.
Joan Poltenson is Norm’s wife — they were married for 57 years. She was co-owner of The Business Journal with him and worked in the business for 10 years.
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