Cobleskill's volunteer: Aggie Scott, 1923-2011

4/26/2011

By Jim Poole

Cobleskill

Now that Aggie Scott’s gone, it’s up to someone else to make the cookies, cakes, pies, meatballs and sauce that fed local fundraisers for years.
Ms. Scott, whom some considered Cobleskill’s most dedicated volunteer, died Friday at age 87.
She was a volunteer for many causes, though one to which she devoted much of her time was Cobleskill Regional Hospital.
Ms. Scott was there at the beginning, before then-Community Hospital was even built. She was a charter member of the Hospital Auxiliary when it formed 1956 and continued her service until recently becoming ill.
Besides volunteering three days per week in the hospital coffee shop, Ms. Scott was a mainstay in fundraisers, with the money going to the hospital.
“She was just amazing,” said Colleen Benson, who as manager of volunteer services worked with Ms. Scott for nearly 10 years.
“All the bake sales. . .Aggie would fill up the tables by herself. For the spaghetti suppers, she’d cook all the sauce, make all the meatballs.”
Every Monday, Ms. Scott would bring fresh flowers to the coffee shop. Her decades-long dedication to the hospital never diminished.
“Even when she wasn’t scheduled to work, Aggie would be here almost every day,” said Joanne Gleba, director of Communications and Development.
“Aggie once said that she’d rather help people because she doesn’t need much herself,” Ms. Gleba added. “That was her.”
Famous for her cooking, Ms. Scott produced a cookbook, Aggie Scott’s Kitchen, several years ago, with the $3,500 in proceeds going to the hospital.
In turn, hospital officials put the donation towards refurbishing a patient activity room. Employees, board members and medical staff donated another $11,200.
The result was the “Aggie Scott Patient Activity Room,” including a 42-inch flat-screen TV and new tables, chairs and cabinets.
“We were glad we could do it while she was here and see how much we appreciate her,” Ms. Gleba said.
At the room dedication, hospital President and CEO Eric Stein noted Ms. Scott’s tireless efforts.
“What a wonderful gift for patients,” Mr. Stein told Ms. Scott then. “And it’s fitting that it’s an activity room because you’re one of the most active in the community, regardless of age. You led the charge.”
The hospital wasn’t Ms. Scott’s only pet project. She was also a key volunteer at her church, the Mineral Springs United Methodist Church.
“She did it all––rummage sales, fritter suppers, ham suppers,” said one longtime friend and member. “Aggie just went ahead and did it.
“It was just her personality. She wanted to be into everything and help every way she could.”
Ms. Scott was also deeply involved in the CROP Walk, which coincidentally is coming up this Sunday.
Funds raised at the walk go to fight hunger locally and worldwide, and Ms. Scott was an eager participant.
“For as long as I’ve been involved, Aggie brought in the most money,” said CROP coordinator John Jarvis.
“And then, even in her 80s, she’d still do the five-mile walk.”
Mr. Jarvis also recalled talking to Ms. Scott about her health and how she was felling.
“I’ll never forget it,” Mr. Jarvis said. “Aggie said, ‘When I get up in the morning, I thank God I got up in the morning.’ I think that’s so positive, a good way to look at life.”
Others who knew her well feel the same way about Ms. Scott.
“She was genuinely the nicest person I ever met,” said Ms. Benson. “Ever.”