This year’s honorees are Robert J. Otterman, who will receive the Peter Bommarito Award, and Sally Akers, who will be presented the Leo E. Dugan Award.
In January 1970, Bob Otterman was sworn into office as an Akron City Councilman, and when he left Council in 2000, he was the longest serving councilman in Akron history. Bob served as a Marine in Korea where he earned a Purple Heart and a medal for exemplary leadership.
Six months prior to his departure, he married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn, in August of 1951. Upon returning from Korea, Bob and Carolyn worked at Goodyear. In order to adopt a child, Bob left his job at Goodyear, and took a job at South High School. There, he was a teacher, and later counselor, making him a father figure to thousands.
In the late ‘70s, after being appointed to fill a vacancy in an at-large seat, Bob was
elected president of Akron City Council. Guided by his philosophy “there ought to be a law,” Bob proposed hundreds of laws and ordinances that he felt would be beneficial to his community. Many of his proposals had a strong pro-consumer slant, and he was also very focused on economic development. He was employed as a teacher and counselor at Ellet High School while simultaneously serving on Akron City Council until 1991, when he retired from the school district. During the following years, Bob devoted himself to caring for his wife Carolyn, who suffered from the later stages of scleroderma, until she passed away in 1997.
In 2000, he left his position as councilman when he was elected State Representative of the 45th House District. Bob served as a representative until 2008, and now spends his free time with his five grandchildren.
Bob has many different organizations and groups he is affiliated with, including St. Matthew Catholic Church, Firestone Prime Timers, Ellet Amateur Athletic Association, Ellet Keen Agers, and a number of seniors’ groups. Bob is the past president of the “all American Soap Box Derby,” the University of Akron Varsity “A,” and the Akron Counselor’s Association.
The winner of the Leo E. Dugan Community Service Award for 2009 is Sally Ak
ers. While raising two beautiful children, and enjoying her four grandchildren, Sally has always aspired to make a difference in her community, and make Northeast Ohio a better place for us all.
In 1968, Sally was hired by AFSCME Council 11 to assist Harold Watson in the organization of city and county employees and non-profit hospitals. Sally has been a major player for decades with in the AFSCME, and remains a crucial member of the organization today. Thanks to Sally’s devoted service, the AFSCME was successful in organizing Akron City, Barberton Citizens, Robinson Memorial Hospitals, and more than 30 governmental agencies. When
Sally started at the AFSCME, there were 600 members; today, there are more than 5,000, and are one of the largest unions in the country within the AFL-CIO. Currently, Sally is Vice-President of AFSCME Akron Sub Chapter Retirees Local 116, an executive board member of the Ohio AFSCME Retirees, the recording secretary of the United Retirees of America, a delegate to the AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Akron Regional Leadership Committee, and a Delegate to the Tri-County Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Prior to her work at AFSCME, Sally was the president of Prentice Park Mothers Club, where she helped organize “Penny Suppers” to raise funds equipment, as well as the president of the Ninth Ward Democrats. As a member of the Young Democrats of Summit County, Sally volunteered for door-to-door activities, and ran headquarters for many elected office holders, starting with Fran McGovern’s campaign for Congress. Sally also served as president of the Allenside United Presbyterian Church’s Women’s Guild, as well as the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW 1033, where she continues to participate in Auxiliary functions.
Sally is an Elder at the Allenside United Presbyterian Church, where she volunteers for church activities, and works part time for the Summit County Environmental Services Department. She is dues paying member of Local 1229, AFSCME, and AFL-CIO.
United Way of Summit County encourages everyone to LIVE UNITED. Each of us has the power to improve lives and advance the common good when we give, advocate and volunteer. For more information on how to give now, on programs and services in our community, or to volunteer, call your United Way of Summit County at (330) 762-7601, explore our website at
http://www.uwsummit.org/, or visit our offices at 90 N. Prospect St., Akron, Ohio.
of Summit County are launching a campaign to ensure that basic human needs are a priority of members of the Ohio General Assembly in the development of Ohio’s Biennial State Budget. The three organizations co-sponsored a briefing on the significant health and human service issues related to the budget.
man service advocates and elected officials - including State Senator Tom Sawyer and State Representaives Stephen Dyer and Bryan Williams - were on hand.
man service advocates and elected officials - including State Senator Tom Sawyer and State Representaives Stephen Dyer and Bryan Williams - were on hand.
