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They
called him the Club President from Hades. And then the Past
President from Hades. And then something really horrific
happened. He decided to throw his hat into the ring and began
a run through the International Executive Officer chairs,
where we learned the truth of the old Italian proverb: Hell
hath no Fury like a Sarubbi scorned.
The
IAPHC history books say that those persons honored with the
International Craftsman of the Year Award should
have an exemplary record of dedication to the principles of
this great Association. Accordingly, such a nominee
should promote the Share Your Knowledge ideal. He or she
should have been active at every level of the Association,
and not merely active, but actively engaged in seeking to be a
change agent for the betterment of the IAPHC.
To meet this standard requires a rare person.
Someone
for whom the Association has touched a deeply personal and
resonant chord.
Someone who bleeds PMS 185, the inky appellation of the true
Craftsman.
Sarubbi
became a member of the North Jersey Club in 1981. He served in
all capacities on that Club’s Board, including
president from 1993-1995. During his presidency, the North
Jersey Club won the first of six recent Club of
the Year Awards. Career moves next brought Tony into an active
role with first the Greater Milwaukee Graphic Arts
Association and more recently the North Shore Club.
Sarubbi
served for five years on the International Board, serving two
terms as International Secretary Treasurer and one
year as Vice Chairman, and all the while, he was a spearhead
for important structural and financial initiatives. He
co-founded the Platinum Reserve fund and is responsible for
many personal and industry contributions to Platinum.
He co-authored and implemented the Business Plan, co-chaired
the Gallery of Superb Printing for two years,
and was instrumental in the development of the Gallery Sponsor
program. Sarubbi’s relentless efforts accounted
for more than $50,000 in sponsorships over the past five
years.
Our
2002 Award winner, by his own passionate admission can be a
pain in the posterior. But his insistence on positive
results, his ferocious and unflinching desire to promote the
IAPHC while prodding it to never give up, makes
him a very special International Craftsman of the Year. Tony
Sarubbi is also the first person who can hang his
International Craftsman of the Year plaque alongside that of
another family member and winner – his wife Frieda,
who won the award in 2000.
Few
are chosen, but to those to whom much is given, much is to be
expected. We know Tony and we love him. And
we know he can be expected to continue his zeal for the future
of a grateful IAPHC which has accorded him its highest
accolade.
It
is fitting and entirely deserved that Anthony J. Sarubbi be
accorded the IAPHC International Craftsman of the Year
Award for the year 2002.
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