Carl F. Gambitta honored for service

11/11/2024

SUNY Cortland presented its 39th annual College-Community Appreciation Award to Carl F. Gambitta ’63, M ’66, C.A.S. ’73 on Nov. 9 during a ceremony in the Corey Union Function Room.

Presented by the university’s College Council during an annual, invitation-only dinner, the College-Community Appreciation Award recognizes local citizens whose efforts have directly benefitted SUNY Cortland.

Gambitta, a retired Groton Jr.-Sr. High School American history and government teacher who has served nearly a half century on the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association board of directors, was honored for his ongoing deep commitment to serving both his community and his alma mater.

“He’s very gracious. He has humility. He’s very generous with his time,” said Tom Gallagher, the longtime chair of SUNY Cortland’s College Council. “When someone came up with Carl’s name, that was the end of the conversation, because of all his accomplishments and all the things he’s done.”

The beloved former educator advocates tirelessly behind-the-scenes for SUNY Cortland’s graduates, according to Erin Boylan, executive director of the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association.

Gambitta joined the alumni association board around 1975, served as its president from 1996 to 1998, and continues to help the association play its key role in alumni and university life. For decades he has helped organize Alumni Reunion, which draws hundreds of former students back to campus year after year.

“Carl’s kindness has permeated our campus and community,” Boylan said. “There is nothing that he will not do and always does more than what is needed. He thinks of everyone and has been known to send staff uplifting, affirmation texts or bring in sweets to share with volunteers. He is the epitome of what you would envision a perfect town-gown ambassador to be.”

Presented with the association’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2017, Gambitta believes giving back is just the right thing to do.

“It’s a little bit uncomfortable to get this award, but I think about the people who made sacrifices for me so I could even get an education,” he said. “Then I think of the people who I’ve worked with who do so many incredible things constantly.”

As the association’s president, Gambitta spearheaded early efforts to establish an alumni house property at 29 Tompkins St. in 2004, later chairing the committee advancing the ultimate purchase of what became the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House. He also served on the university’s Sesquicentennial Committee.

In 2013, in the aftermath of the destructive celebration that broke out in the city of Cortland after the Cortaca Jug football game, Gambitta joined a special panel of university and community leaders charged with investigating the incident and developing a plan to keep subsequent Cortaca celebrations safe and positive.

“I can never, ever, ever repay Cortland for the opportunities that it gave me, if I was on one of those committees for 75 years,” Gambitta said.

He retired in 2013 from teaching at Groton Central Schools after 50 years, having by his estimate touched the lives of at least 5,500 students in the Groton district and during a few years instructing part time at Tompkins-Cortland Community College. He continued for years afterwards as a substitute teacher.

“If you’re having a good time and really like what you’re doing, why would you change?” Gambitta said. “When I get onto something and I really like it, I’m a creature of habit.”

Last year, Groton (N.Y.) Junior/Senior High School dedicated its newly renovated football press box to Gambitta, dubbed “The Voice of Groton,” recognizing him for his longtime role as the announcer for home and away games.

Gallagher said, “I’m from Groton and what people say about him is, ‘He’s such a great guy.’ All the kids he taught; he’s been like a grandfather to them. And he follows them for the rest of their lives … If his former students call him after they graduate and have a problem, he’ll deal with it.”

“The greatest thing about teaching is you see these kids when they were growing up and now you see them as adults,” Gambitta said. “They have their families, they have their careers. Some of them have done very well for themselves and it’s wonderful to see and acknowledge the successes they have had.”

The son of a factory worker and homemaker in Oneida, N.Y., Gambitta described himself as “stretching it when I say I was a mediocre (high school) student. I had some great teachers, but I was just an immature kid who didn’t see a great value in that.

“I don’t know what happened, but when I came to Cortland, I just loved academics.”

“When I went to Cortland to study to become a teacher (secondary social studies), I absolutely felt that was the most important thing for me to possibly do.”

“For many years, Carl has stood out as a warm, welcoming presence to all Red Dragons, from future students visiting campus to fellow alums celebrating milestone class reunions,” SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum said. “Both the university and the local community are better places because of him.”

Gambitta lives in Virgil, N.Y., with his wife and fellow retired schoolteacher, Mary Ann Valle Gambitta ’65, M ’95. They have three grown children, all SUNY Cortland alumni: Deanne Gambitta Schiller ’89, Robert Gambitta ’89, M ’97 and Jeffrey Gambitta M ’03. They also have 10 grandchildren. Robert and Jeffrey both teach at Cortland High School.