Lucy Mysiak
July 5, 1950—Dec. 10, 2009
Lucille A. Mysiak, director of emergency services for the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross, died Thursday in St. Joseph Hospital, Cheektowaga, after a brief illness. She was 59.
Born in Buffalo, Ms. Mysiak was a graduate of Bishop Mc- Mahon High School. She coordinated and implemented relief efforts to scores of victims following the December 27, 1983, explosion of an illegal propane tank on North Division Street in Buffalo. She worked for three weeks without returning home to provide help to firefighters and those impacted by the catastrophic explosion, which killed five firefighters, two civilians, injured many others and damaged a dozen city blocks, resulting in millions of dollars in losses.
Because of her experience, the
Red Cross and Federal Emergency
Management Agency called on
her to teach courses on emergency
preparedness, taking her to most
states in the United States, including
Alaska, as well as Jamaica, Africa and
countries in South Americas.
She served on the Erie County Disaster Preparedness Board and the International Joint Committee of Emergency Preparedness for Erie and Niagara counties and the Niagara peninsula in Ontario. She was a consultant in emergency preparedness for Wyoming County and the City of Niagara Falls as well as a member of the SMART Team of Erie County.
A native of Buffalo, Ms. Mysiak was an annual Day of Caring volunteer and a member of the board of governors of the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County. She served as a member and chair woman of the Volunteer Services Committee of the United Way. She was chairwoman of the Community Hero awards and the former J. C. Penney Golden Rule Volunteer Recognition awards of up to $50,000 a year to charitable organizations.
Ms. Mysiak was a member and chairwoman of the committee for fundraising events at the Franciscan Center, the Buffalo- area shelter for teenage boys. She worked with active-duty military and veterans to promote Western New York Armed Forces Week, held each May, and was chairwoman of the public relations/community outreach committee for themultievent week of ceremonies honoring the armed forces.
Ms. Mysiak was an advocate for women.She was a member of the Women’s Action Committee sponsored by Erie County Commission on the Status of Women. She also was president of the Buffalo/Amherst Business and Professional Women, and under her leadership, the organization won statewide awards for shedding light on the achievements of women and the inequalities they face, during National Business Women’s Week and Women’s History Month.
Ms. Mysiak received the Woman of the Year award from the Buffalo Business and Professional Women and the Am- Pol Eagle Citizen of the Year award in government. She was employed by the United University Professions at the Buffalo Health Science Chapter of the University at Buffalo since 1994. She was a member of Local 1141, Communication Workers of America.
Survivors include her mother, Lucy, and her companion, Gregory Mioducki. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a m. Tuesday in Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, 180 George Urban Blvd., Cheektowaga. Prayers will be said at 8:45 in Paul A. Kloc Blossom Chapels, 4680 Clinton St., West Seneca.
