Mooney, Ottinger named Senior Citizens of the Year
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
The Nantucket Council on Aging recently chose islanders Robert F. Mooney and Joan Ottinger as the 2008 Senior Citizens of the Year and will honor them at a special luncheon on June 26.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Robert Mooney and Joan Ottinger have been named the 2008 Senior Citizens of the Year by the Nantucket Council on Aging.

In order to receive this distinction, nominees must be 60 years or older, exemplify the spirit of positive aging, have an enthusiastic community involvement, cheerfully help others, serve as a role model to peers and be a reflection of the community's outstanding seniors.

"I feel old," Mooney said drolly, when asked for his reaction to the designation. "There's something sort of final about these seniors - like being given an award for lifetime achievement."

All kidding aside, Mooney added, "I think it's a great honor."

Mooney's accomplishments include his tenure as an attorney, now in his 50th year as a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association; his five published books about Nantucket's people and history; a stint of six years championing Nantucket's interests in the House of Representatives, to which he was elected at the age of 25; a former advisor to the Atheneum and Nantucket Historical Association; a former member of the state Board of Library Commissioners and a founding member of both the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and Nantucket Lifesaving Museum.

"I feel very honored and very appreciative that the board members chose me," said Ottinger. "There are many, many people on the island who could have been chosen."

Ottinger recently served as community liaison for "Splash! NHS Nantucket," enlisting islanders to share their skills and interests with Nantucket High School students during the May 23 activity day.

She was also active in helping form the Committee for Constructive School Change and served as chairman of the religious education committee of the Unitarian Church and interim director of Small Friends on Nantucket.

Ottinger is the chairman of the Small Friend's building committee, former vicepresident and president of the Nantucket Interfaith Council and a teacher with the literacy program at the Atheneum.

"I have only one passion - education of young children," she said.