BY MELISSA PYLE
Special to the Telegraph
Diane Gaskins is retiring after 25 years with Bradford County and her impact on the community was seen in the large outpouring of friends, colleagues, senior citizens and family at her retirement party on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Bradford County Senior Center.
Gaskins knew there was going to be a sendoff but walked into a surprise when she saw the large crowd in attendance. Every table in the senior center was filled with people she’d impacted, many who regularly attend Zumba, quilting, gardening and other activities hosted at the center. The answer was always similar when attendees were asked about Gaskins. Many said she did everything with excellence and was always there to help when they needed it.
One of her friends, Dorothy Bartlett, said Gaskins is the “heart of the senior center” and said she’d visited other senior centers and they’re not as exceptional as the local one, which she attributed to Gaskins’ hard work. She and Gaskins actually worked together in the past at the Bradford County Public Library.
Gaskins worked in the late 1990s at the old library as a circulation clerk and when she moved to the new library building, she began teaching a newly created computer class. She said her boss at the time said, “Diane, do you want to learn?” and she said she would always reply with “Yes, ma’am!”
Her willingness to learn new things has always been part of her passion and has served her and others well. That teachable spirit, along with her ability to roll with the punches is what uniquely suited her to host seniors at the center. Gaskins said Zumba class was her favorite activity. And she would never consider herself a master gardener, but she learned something new from all the master gardeners who attended the classes.
Carnell Williams, one of her friends and a volunteer who helped host the retirement party, was particularly moved when talking about Gaskins. “She goes above, beyond, she never goes below. She’s always there for you. … Nine times out of ten she can help you, but if she can’t, she’ll find a way to help you. She’s loyal … and I’m going to miss her.”
Gaskins is an example of what makes a good leader. She has served the seniors well and promised them she would be dropping in to hangout, but this time as a retiree and not the director. Gaskins is happy her position will be filled by another former library employee, Tonya Mitchell. Mitchell will be taking over Gaskin’s role and said she knows she has “big shoes to fill” but is excited for the opportunity to continue to serve the seniors of Bradford County, following in well laid footsteps left by Gaskins.
