SUNY Geneseo President Denise A. Battles (left) presented alumni Joe '67 and Elaine '66 Bucci with the college’s Medal of Distinction Nov. 19. It’s the college’s highest honor recognizing exceptional professional achievement and contributions to society.
GENESEO, N.Y. – SUNY Geneseo jointly awarded a Medal of Distinction Nov. 19 to American Rock Salt Co. founder and CEO Joe Bucci and his wife, retired educator and community leader Elaine. The medal is the college’s highest honor recognizing exceptional professional achievement and contributions to society. This year’s recipients are both SUNY Geneseo graduates.
“Joe, I truly commend you for being the leader of this successful company and your involvement with other business ventures doing important work, but I also commend you for your indisputable integrity in remaining steadfastly committed to your employees, your community and your college,” said SUNY Geneseo President Denise A. Battles in presenting the award. “Elaine, you also have my esteem for your long-time success as an educator, your commitment to your immediate and extended family and your purposeful community involvement,” Battles said.
SUNY Geneseo Foundation Board Chair Kevin Gavagan ’75 praised the Buccis for their careers and life accomplishments that reflect the ideals embodied in the award.
“You have had a substantial positive impact on your family, your community and your alma mater,” said Gavagan. “Livingston County, Western New York and SUNY Geneseo are without question better places because of your commitment and dedication.”
Joe Bucci, a 1967 Geneseo graduate, launched American Rock Salt by gathering local funding and support after a conglomerate decided to close the salt mine that had been employing hundreds in Livingston County. Reviving the mine also revived the local economy, and Bucci and his associates have built the largest underground salt mine in the country, extracting some 18,000 tons of salt every day, which is shipped to numerous communities in New York and surrounding states to spread on slick roads.
Elaine Tramontana Bucci, a 1966 Geneseo graduate who also earned her master’s degree at the college, taught for a total of 37 years, 32 of them at York Central School, where she built a model compensatory program, including remedial reading, math and English programs. She also taught 6th grade for many years at York.
She was recently named to the board of the Wilmot Cancer Center in Rochester and also is involved with Catholic Charities of Livingston County.
The Buccis, who reside in Piffard, previously received the Geneseo Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2007. They were joined at the Medal of Distinction ceremony by more than a hundred family, friends and business associates in the college’s Integrated Science Center.
“Our gratitude is deeply felt in receiving this award,” said Elaine. “What better feeling to know that you have helped or given some person or organization a helping hand, not necessarily financially, but in a hands-on way.”
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Joe. “SUNY Geneseo gave us a great start and I’m truly appreciative.”
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