Hall of Fame

In 2008, to commemorate Frost Valley YMCA’s 50^th year in the Catskills, the Board of Trustees resolved to begin a tradition of recognizing the outstanding individuals who have been instrumental in the service and leadership of our organization. The following individuals have been inducted into our Hall of Fame for their contributions to the founding, continued success, and legacy of Frost Valley.

2008:

D. Halbe Brown (1936-2012)

Executive Director of Frost Valley YMCA, 1966-2001

Woodruff J. “Woody” English (1910–1996)

Long-time trustee, Frost Valley YMCA’s Environmental Education Program was named in his honor

Eva Gottscho (1913–2009)

Founder of the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation Bringing children with chronic kidney disease to Frost Valley YMCA

2009:

Helen Geyer

First-ever woman on the Frost Valley YMCA Board of Trustees

James C. Kellogg

Frost Valley YMCA Board President for fifteen years, succeeding Woody English

2010:

Walter T. Margetts (1905–1983)

Responsible for finding and negotiating the transfer of Julius Forstmann’s estate to what was then known as the Central Atlantic Area Council of the YMCA, now Frost Valley YMCA

2011:

Tatsuo and Emiko Honma

Tatsuo and Emiko Honma were the founders of, and the driving forces behind, the innovative Tokyo-Frost Valley YMCA Partnership formed with D. Halbe Brown in 1979.

The primary goal of the partnership was to ensure mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and Japan, providing young people the opportunity to become global citizens with the skills and intention to serve others.

Its programs continue today to support Japanese families living in the United States, offering opportunities for fellowship and helping them cope with the challenges of adapting to a new culture while maintaining a sense of their home culture.

Jane Brown ( -2013)

Those who have felt the Frost Valley magic—its capacity to welcome everyone and to create a remarkable sense of familiarity and ease—must know that it is in no small part owing to the generosity and hospitality of Jane Brown. Jane and her husband, long-time Frost Valley Executive Director D. Halbe Brown, brought their young family here in 1966. From then until 2001, no one provided keener or more consistent stewardship of Frost Valley’s people—campers, staff, trustees, grantors, donors, friends, and visitors, for a day or for a year—than Jane. To the extent that people at Frost Valley felt specifically connected to the place, it was almost always because of Jane.

Charles R. Scott (1874–1954)

The two oldest YMCA camps in the United States, Camps Dudley and Wawayanda, were both founded in 1885. Camp Dudley moved to the Adirondacks but its twin settled in northwestern New Jersey where Charles R. Scott, the leader and director, named the camp “Wawayanda” after the nearby lake. Scott became the first president of the American Camping Association, an organization he helped found; he became Secretary of all New Jersey YMCAs; and, in 1910, he organized the nation’s first Lifesaving Corps at Wawayanda—all of which helped establish our camp as a site for premiere leadership, constant innovation, and the youth program for which all other camps looked to for guidance.

2012:

Fenn Putman (1933-2014)

The longest serving member of the Board of Trustees (forty-two years)

Dr. Jerome Wolff ( –2003)

Played an instrumental role in Camp Wawayanda’s momentous move from New Jersey to it’s present home

2013:

Paul Guenther

Visionary supporter of non-profit organizations and a long-time leader of the Board of Trustees; he supported the building of Frost Valley’s new Wellness Center with an extraordinary, organization-changing gift of $1 million.

David King

Tremendously energetic long-time member of the seasonal staff between the late 1950s and the late 1970s Dave had an impact on every single aspect of the Wawayanda camping experience, many of the innovations and customs he introduced into daily summer life here are in use to this day.

Howard E. Quirk (1924-1994)

A minister and a counselor; a raconteur and an entertainer; a story-teller and witty tour guide, but above all else, Howard E. Quirk was passionate about people. “The heartbeat of Frost Valley” as described by long-time Executive Director, Halbe Brown

2014:

Clara Hasbrouck

Seventeen year member of Frost Valley’s Board of Trustees, she promulgated the commitment to the Castle’s preservation and its permanent use for schoolchildren and summer campers as a living-learning lab for encountering local social history.

Frank Ketcham

An original member of Frost Valley’s Board of Trustees, he played a critical role in Wawayanda’s move to Frost Valley in 1958, and forged the Westfield Y/Wawayanda connection.

John Ketcham

Camper turned staff member, in 1975 John wrote computer programs to aid accounting practices. He developed a specialty camp for kids focusing on computers and for at least one two-week session taught the children himself.

Dr. Ira Greifer ( -2014)

Co-founded The Ruth Gottscho Kidney Center in 1974-75 with Halbe Brown, and Eva Gottscho.

2015:

Robert Ohaus (1919-2004)

Known as “Mr. Y,” Bob was deeply passionate about the Y movement and it’s values. He served as a quietly forceful, innovative trustee for decades, and through his work in Westfield Bob was a strong proponent of Wawayanda’s move to the Forstmann estate in New York.

Henry Hird (1884-1983)

Founder of Camp Henry Hird, originally the girls camp founded in 1962, now the older group of Frost Valley summer campers.

Carl Hess (1926-1979) and Marie Hess (1929-2015)

Great pioneers of Frost Valley, instrumental in creating a unique, nurturing, accepting and educational place where anyone, through effort, could experience it as home. No job in support of children and families was too small or too messy for Carl & Marie.

2016:

Sumner Dudley (1854-1897)

Initiated a literary society for children and eventually convinced YMCA leaders to support his summertime “rambling tours” that brought children into the wilderness.

Cathy McFarland Harvey

A trailblazer in the cause of equal opportunity, Cathy McFarland Harvey has been instrumental in the creation and growth of Frost Valley’s various partnerships with organizations in Newark.

Bill & Eva Devlin

A dedicated couple, Bill founded and developed Frost Valley’s Environmental Education Program, a historic achievement and Eva almost single-handedly worked to improve the image of Frost Valley by voluntarily restoring the Frost Valley Castle

2017:

Hunter W. Corbin

A dedicated trustee and Vice Chair of the Build Strong capital campaign committee, Hunter Corbin was a driving force in the success of Frost Valley’s “Build Strong” capital campaign.

Robert B. Haines

Led the initiative to modernize the trustees’ bylaws and led the Committee on Trustees with its chief mission of positive self-governance. Robert Haines also led the board’s endowment subcommittee and saw that fund pass the $10 million mark a few years ago.

Charles J. “Chuck” and Joy White

Charles White served as co-designer, planner, financial advisor, and general contractor for Margetts Lodge, the dialysis center, the replacement dining hall, Geyer Hall, and the first cabin-lodges. Joy White presided over the Wellness Center shifting its focus to prevention, education, fitness, self-examination, healthy diet, and ample rest for the staff.

2018:

Beverly Gross Sutton

Pioneered the culture and values of “Camp Wawayanda for Girls” (as it was first called) and then “Camp Henry Hird.”

James “Jim” Marion

Served as Frost Valley’s Environmental Education Program Director from 1976-1990. Jim Marion pioneered many of the programs that still inspire generations of students and visitors to this day, such as The WOW (Wonders of Winter Program), Project Adventure, and the Maple Sugaring Program.

Ted B. Hilton

A trustee for over forty years, Ted Hilton is a staunch supporter of Frost Valley’s Environmental Education Program. He was also instrumental in brokering the partnership between the Tison family and Frost Valley.

2019:

Charles & Marie Kremer

Created a legacy of practicality and generosity that lives on through family and staff members who they have inspired through the years. Charles worked on the maintenance crew and Marie first worked as a chef, and then for many years as the office manager. The Kremer family have collectively committed over 110 years of service to further Frost Valley’s mission.

John Ledlie

During his impressive career spanning more than four decades, Ledlie was a pioneer forging the burgeoning path to what would become modern-day camping best practices.

2023:

Henry “Bud” Cox

Long-time camper turned staff turned legend, Bud Cox, founded the Adventure Camp program and so much more. For his historic engagement with every level of program and project at Camp Wawayanda and Frost Valley across eight decades – Bud Cox has been inducted into the Frost Valley YMCA Hall of Fame.

James “Jim” Vaughan

Jim’s work at Frost Valley has enabled him to have a positive impact on kids and families for nearly 30 years as a Board Member and volunteer. For his consistent devotion to the aim of serving every child and every family, James Vaughan has been inducted into the Frost Valley YMCA Hall of Fame.