Doug Stage named Warwick Citizen of Year

WARWICK — Doug Stage comes from a family of volunteers and lives by the Jaycee motto: “Service to humanity is the best work of life.”
Doug Stage has been selected Warwick’s 2018-19 Citizen of the Year.
Fifty years ago, the Warwick Jaycees awarded the first Warwick Citizen of the Year to Lawrence Stage, his grandfather.
Both will have their names displayed on separate plaques hanging in Warwick Town Hall.
Lawrence is the first name on the Jaycee plaque, honoring recipients from 1968 through 1999.
The Warwick Valley Rotary Club revived the award 11 years ago and has a separate plaque for those recent winners, including Doug Stage.
'Consummate community volunteer'During the 35 years Doug Stage has been an attorney in a fourth-generation law practice, he has been described as “a consummate community volunteer.”
A lifelong resident of Warwick, Stage takes great pride in his community. One nomination letter mentioned: “There are so many organizations he has volunteered with over the years that I’m not even sure I can list them all but here are some: Warwick Ambulance, Jaycees, Lions, Rotary, Cemetery Association, Bon Secours Community Hospital Foundation Board, Warwick Little League and Warwick Soccer League. Chamber of Commerce and Warwick Historical Society.”
Another letter described Stage as “a constant force in his community making sure to give back.”
He joined the Warwick Ambulance Corps in 1982 and became an EMT riding the ambulance for several years.
He also joined the Warwick Jaycees and served as president. He was involved in many Jaycee projects, including newspaper recycling, youth leadership training and the Christmas Shopping Party which evolved into the shared Lions/Rotary Clubs’ Christmas Party for children in need.
Lions, Rotary, Little League, soccer Stage is a past president and board member of the Warwick Lions Club, chairing numerous club committees, including the Lions See Program. This project has been instrumental in early detection of treatable vision issues with young children.
He is also a member of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club, another community service organization. He especially enjoys working on the annual Christmas Party for underprivileged children.
Stage has been a coach for Warwick Little League and the Warwick Soccer League and volunteered in the Warwick schools as a PIE parent.
Stage and his wife Christine, also an attorney, have two grown children, James and Catie.
EssentialsStage and two recipients of Outstanding Community Service Awards – Marge King-Porter and Sue Gardner - will be honored during a celebration at the Landmark Inn on Wednesday, Oct. 24 , from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tickets and additional information are available online at warwickvalleyrotary.org or by calling Leo Kaytes at 845 629-6491.