K 242: Mourning the death of Greg Olma, distinguished citizen, committed public servant, and devoted member of his community

 Assembly Resolution No. 242 BY: M. of A. Burke MOURNING the death of Greg Olma, distinguished citizen, committed public servant, and devoted member of his community WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Greg Olma of Erie County, New York, died on March 14, 2025, at the age of 65; and WHEREAS, Born to Paula (nee Failing) and the late Richard Olma, Greg Olma centered his life around family, public service, community engagement, and knowledge; and WHEREAS, An alumnus of Saint Francis High School, Greg Olma earned a Bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate from SUNY at Buffalo in 1986 and 1992, respectively, and throughout his life, Greg Olma committed to the lifelong pursuit of knowledge, learning, and truth; and WHEREAS, With the unique ability to retain and share general information about an array of topics such as local and world history, geo-political events, recipes, travel destinations, and restaurants, Greg Olma enjoyed the challenge of a good debate with those willing to engage with him; and WHEREAS, Greg Olma distinguished himself in his profession and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of his community; and WHEREAS, Greg Olma's pursuit of truth proved valuable to his work as a public servant, and throughout his career he served as a legislator for Erie County, Erie County deputy commissioner of Parks and Recreation, legislative assistant to a council member, Erie County Democratic Committee member, and a member of the Ukrainian Congress Committee Election Observer Delegation; and WHEREAS, In addition to Greg Olma's involvement in leadership and public service, he was also involved as a member in many local organizations, including Adam Plewacki Post No. 799 FCU, Broadway Market, Polish Community Center, Lexington Food CoOp, Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle Inc., Dnipro, Ukrainian American Civic Association, Torn Space Theater, Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, Ukrainian FCU, Good Neighbors FCU, and Eugene V. Debs Hall; and WHEREAS, As a courageous leader and tireless public servant, Greg Olma reliably lent his fervent support to local and neighborhood organizations, city-wide restoration projects, and he always demonstrated mutual appreciation for all cultures in his community, including his beloved Polish and Ukrainian connections; and WHEREAS, A family man at heart, Greg Olma shared a 33-year marriage with his loving wife, Annette Juncewicz, and together they shared the joy of raising their two precious children, Mira and Max Olma; and WHEREAS, Greg Olma was always supportive and proud of his children, and he encouraged and embraced their shared love of travel, athletics, continued education, exploration, and the pursuit of truth; and WHEREAS, Outside of professional endeavors, Greg Olma and his wife enjoyed mutual friends and interests, a good laugh, witty exchanges, memorable road trips, and memorable family time; and WHEREAS, Greg Olma's commitment to excellence, and his spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charitable and civic endeavors; and WHEREAS, Greg Olma is survived by his wife, Anette; children, Mira and Max; mother, Paula; brother, Gerry; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tina, Veronica, Edmund, Evelyn, and Helen; nieces and nephews, Philip, Lara, Joseph, Teresa, Adam, and Rebecca; great-nieces, Gracie and Addie; he is predeceased by his father, Richard; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Greg Olma leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the death of Greg Olma, distinguished citizen, committed public servant, and devoted member of his community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Greg Olma.