Berkshire Health Honors Judge Sacco With Doyle AwardBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
02:42PM / Tuesday, September 22, 2015 | |
 Judge Sacco shakes hands with BHS President and CEO David Phelps. |
 Judge Rudolph A. Sacco was honored with BHS' Doyle Award for community service on Monday evening. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Retired Judge Rudolph A. Sacco was honored by the Berkshire Health Systems board of trustees for his many efforts on behalf of his city and the wider community with the Francis X. Doyle Award.
The presentation was made by trustees Chairman Timothy Doherty at Monday evening's special board meeting, which included the announcement of Berkshire Medical Center's membership in a new cancer care collaborative.
"Many local organizations have greatly benefited from those contributions to the community by Judge Sacco," said Doherty. "We can all agree his life has been filled with good judgment, and a commitment to helping our community and all who live here and prosper here."
He also read a citation from the state Senate acknowledging Sacco's efforts.
"I have never felt more speechless in my life," said the judge, joking to laughter that he was of an age when he "doesn't buy green bananas anymore." "And to be one of the bunch tonight is so important to me.
"You don't know how thrilled I am and how humbled that I should be up here."
Doyle was a longtime member of the BHS board, and a leader in the area of health and family services in the area. The award was established in his name by the board in 1998.
"He often said he took it personally when the less fortunate in our community needed help," said BHS President and CEO David Phelps. "[The award] recognizes and honors the individual or individuals in the community who make significant contributions to the health and well-being of the area."
Sacco has been involved with the Cancer Crusade, Boys Club, Campfire Girls, Daughters of Washington, the Becket Arts Center, the Brien Center, United Cerebral Palsy, Boy Scouts, Make A Wish and more. The Brien Center honored him with its Volunteer Recognition Award in 2014 for his service on their board. The Boys Scouts also presented him its Lawrence Strattner Jr. Distinguished Citizen Award.
A Pittsfield native, Sacco served in the Navy in World War II. He graduated from Boston College in 1951 and from Suffolk University Law School in 1956, returning to Pittsfield to practice law. He spent time as an assistant state attorney general and commissioner of the Department of Public Utilities. He was appointed as a special probate judge in 1973 and spent a quarter of a century in the District and Family Probate court system before retiring in 1997. His memoir, "A Life of Good Judgment: Memoir of Rudolph A. Sacco," was published in 2009.
"Born one of six children, Judge Sacco has always been proud of his Italian heritage, and dedicated himself to bringing the Italian culture to the forefront in the Berkshires and throughout Western Massachusetts," said Doherty. "That commitment to his heritage led to a labor of love for Judge Sacco: the establishment of a Unico in Pittsfield."
The largest national Italian service organization's motto is "service above self." Sacco became a founder and first president of the Pittsfield chapter in 1986. The local club has more than 125 members and is the third largest chapter in the country.
"This vital organization has often partnered with BHS to raise funds for programs that help our patients who cannot afford high co-pays or deductible to receive the care they need," said Doherty, and thanking Unico on behalf of BHS for helping the health care organization meet the needs of the community.
Sacco said he was flattered to be "handed the baton" from Doyle, who had be a sort of neighbor and "great community leader." He said he felt the similar obligation as Doyle's to extend himself on behave of the community.
"After my college years, there was no question, I was committed to return here," he said. "I married my wife from Newton, I told her what obligation I felt to return to here and she was very cooperative."
Sacco and his late wife of 60 years, the former Katherine Mary Turschmann, raised 10 children in Pittsfield and took advantage of the many youth programs that benefited its citizens.
"I have an obligation to all of those organizations who treated me so well and the people who treated me so well."
He credited his many friendships and relationships built over the years as being central to his life, leaving his audience with one of his poems.
"Please work each day to increase that circle
And you know what? You'll find life to be a living miracle."
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