5/16/2024

The Iosco County Community Foundation (ICCF) has named Mary Reitler, of Oscoda, as the 2024 Iosco County Citizen of the Year. Catherine (Catie) Push, 18, of Tawas City, was named 2024 Junior Citizen of the Year. The Citizen of the Year award was created by ICCF to honor an adult and youth in Iosco County who go above and beyond by giving of their time, talent and/or resources to help their community.

Mary Reitler is an Oscoda High School graduate who, after attending college at Michigan State and CMU, returned to Iosco County where she taught at Whittemore-Prescott, Hale, and then Oscoda Area Schools where she taught special education and then became the principal there. She joined the Oscoda Rotary Club in 1995, serving as the Club President several times over the past 29 years. She also leads several committees to help the Club make a difference in her community including the Literacy Program, Rotary’s Interact Student program, highway cleanups, and the Thursday night concerts at the Oscoda Beach Bandshell. Mary is also instrumental in leading the yearly planting and maintenance of the Oscoda Rotary Pocket Park in Downtown Oscoda. Mary has assisted the Oscoda-AuSable Chamber of Commerce for many years in the organizing and leading of the 4th of July parades, the Northern Lights Christmas Parades, and assisting in the Welcome Center and serves as an ambassador of the Oscoda-AuSable Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Reitler is also involved with Iosco County FISH, Sacred Heart Church, Oscoda Downtown Beautification, the Oscoda Area Schools Board of Education, and she collaborates with several other civic organizations to find shelter for the homeless.

Catherine (Catie) Push is about to graduate from Tawas Area High School, where her nominators say she is loved and respected by her teachers, club leaders, coaches, and fellow students. Catie is the President of the Tawas Student Senate, a role that includes being the emcee at assemblies, running the social media page, organizing events, and countless other tasks. As a member of the National Honor Society, Catie has contributed beyond the required 35 hours of community service. She is a familiar face and volunteer at community events, tailgates, children’s events, and school clubs. Catie has also taken part in the Rotary Interact leadership development camp. She is an athlete that carries a 4.0 GPA, and has already earned 29 college credits. She is the captain of her varsity soccer team, helps with children’s soccer camps, plays basketball, and golf.

“The Iosco County Community Foundation is honored to recognize these two incredible individuals for their positive impact both in our community, and, in the lives of others,” says ICCF Board President Cliff Miller. “Iosco County is fortunate to have Mary and Catie. Their efforts set a great example for all of us.”

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mrs. Reitler was unable to attend the May 17 event. Members of her family and the Oscoda Rotary Club accepted the award on her behalf.

Nominations for Citizen and Junior Citizen of the Year are submitted by members of the public. Reitler and Push were honored at a special event on May 16 at Tawas Bay Beach Resort surrounded by friends, family, and community members. Nominations for the 2025 Citizen and Junior Citizen of the Year awards will be available for nomination beginning in November 2024.

For more information about the Citizen of the Year program, visit iccf-online.org.

The Iosco County Community Foundation is a charitable organization committed to providing people who care about the future of our area with unique and effective ways of supporting their community now, and for generations to come. Led by a volunteer board of local citizens, the foundation oversees a group of permanently endowed funds from a wide range of donors. Gifts of all sizes from individuals, families, businesses, and agencies are invested in a balanced, well-managed portfolio to build endowments, enabling support for local community nonprofits now and forever. ICCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan.