VERNON TOWNSHIP —
“It’s a great privilege to be even considered for this award,” Dr. John Nesbitt, a long-time Meadville area physician said after stepping to the podium to accept the Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Distinguished Community Service Award.
Dr. Nesbitt was honored Wednesday night at the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Awards Night held at the Movies at Meadville in Vernon Township.
Nesbitt spent most of his career as a physician with a specialty in internal medicine and since his retirement from Pioneer Medical Associates in 1998 has been active with the Meadville Area Free C Clinic. He has served as medical director of the Meadville Area Free Clinic for more than 10 years, following in the footsteps of former partner, Dr. David Kirkpatrick, himself a past Shafer Award winner.
“It is worthwhile,” Nesbitt said to a reporter when asked about his continuing work with the clinic. “The people (who go to the clinic) work, but have low-paying jobs. They can’t afford health care.”
“Dave Kirkpatrick got me started in the late 1990s,” he said. “I have no plans to quit it.”
Nesbitt also has been very active over the years in the local medical community as well as the community as whole.
He has been an active supporter and fundraiser for Meadville Medical Center and has served as president of its medical staff. He was a founder of the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation, the area’s philanthropic foundation, and served on its board of directors for 12 years.
Nesbitt and his wife, Lucy, established the E.M. Nesbitt Scholarship Fund with the Presbyterian Foundation many years ago. This fund is named in memory of John’s father, a former pastor at Park Presbyterian Church in Beaver, and provides a scholarship to a high school senior from the Beaver area yearly.
He is an active member of Meadville’s First Presbyterian Church and has held many leadership posts at the church as well.
Nesbitt is a graduate of Swarthmore College and in 1966, earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. His medical residencies were completed at hospitals in Pittsburgh and St. Louis, Mo.
He also is a former officer in the U.S. Navy, having served during the Vietnam War.
He and his wife, Lucy are the parents of three sons, Eric, Andy and Matt.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
What is the Shafer Award?
The Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Distinguished Community Service Award is co-sponsored by Allegheny College, the Shafer Law Firm and the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce.
It recognizes a person who has made a singular contribution to the quality of life in western Crawford County.
It’s named for former Pennsylvania Gov. Raymond P. Shafer, a 1938 magna cum laude graduate of Allegheny who was in public service for more than 50 years. Shafer, a Meadville resident, died Dec. 12, 2006, at age 89.
Shafer’s political career began in 1948 when he was elected Crawford County district attorney; then to the Pennsylvania Senate in 1958; and, in 1962, as lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, with William Scranton elected as governor. Shafer successfully ran for governor in 1966, taking office in January 1967 and serving until 1971.
In 1972, Shafer served as chairman of the National Committee on Drug Abuse under former President Richard Nixon. He was chief counsel to Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller from 1974 to 1975 and was chairman of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relation from 1982 to 1992.
Local News
Related Photos
-
THURS award.jpg
Discussion
Dr. Nesbitt receives Gov. Shafer Award
- Local News
-
-
Allegheny students work to help trailer park get bus stop shelter
Allegheny College art students working with local engineers to construct a bus shelter for a local mobile home park has launched an online campaign to raise funds for the project, which is sponsored in part by the Crawford County Area Transportation Authority (CATA).
-
Saturday is bike safety day for kids
Meadville Area Recreation Complex is the place to be between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday for everyone interested in safe bicycle riding.
-
Union head, gov.'s budget secretary to testify over pension reform
The head of the union representing Pennsylvania public school teachers and Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget secretary are two of the speakers expected to testify before a House panel examining pension reform today.
-
Bill could set up liquor privatization showdown
Republicans in the state Senate on Tuesday announced a plan that would replace the existing state store system by allowing beer distributors and businesses that sell six packs to begin selling wine and liquor.
-
Conneaut taking close look at school dress code
Conneaut School District’s student dress code is in the process of being revised for the first time since 2006.
-
Camp Cadet offers look into life of law enforcement
While maintenance issues grounded the Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Six helicopter from its flight to Allegheny College, local teens attending Camp Cadet still received quite a show from members of the state’s Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) at the campus soccer field Tuesday afternoon.
-
Outsourcing at center of Crawford Central budget talks
Representing the 120 members of the Crawford Central Educational Support Personnel Association, Orrie Long, custodian at East End Elementary School at Second District Elementary School, told members of Crawford Central School Board Monday night that the standing-room-only crowd of 40 white-shirted men and women filling the room for the board’s monthly work session were there to show support for their union’s negotiating team.
-
Dedicated group in search of history at Geneva Cemetery site
The genealogists, historians and local residents who scoured overgrown, knee-high fields to uncover Old Geneva Cemetery described the sight as bittersweet — awe-inspiring in its significance, but in a depressing state of disrepair.
-
Fund drive on for Asbury Manor bus stop project
Allegheny College art students working with local engineers to construct a bus shelter for Asbury Manor East launched an online campaign to raise funds for the project, which is sponsored in part by the Crawford County Area Transportation Authority (CATA).
-
Camp Cadet training starts today
The day begins at 5:30 a.m. this week on the Allegheny College campus as Pennsylvania State Police Troop E Erie Camp Cadet program celebrates 40th anniversary.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Allegheny students work to help trailer park get bus stop shelter
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
