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Hollidaysburg Citizen of the Year ‘generous with time’

Tim Surkovich, who has multiple sclerosis, works with charity groups and disease awareness organizations and was recently named Hollidaysburg Citizen of the Year.

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Despite living with a disease of the central nervous system for more than a quarter century, Tim Surkovich’s focus has been on helping others.

And because of his work with charity groups and disease awareness organizations, Surkovich was named 2016’s Hollidaysburg Citizen of the Year.

“I’m honored to get this,” Surkovich said. “You don’t win something like this unless you have the support of the people around you.”

Surkovich, 55, was honored last month at the local American Legion social hall, but his calling toward community service has roots in his childhood, he said.

“Growing up, I watched my parents, and they were extremely involved in the community,” he said. “To me, I felt like I’ve always tried to be the same.”

In fact, Surkovich said his mother, Genevieve, won a similar award years ago in Ohio.

“That’s the first thing that went through my head,” Surkovich said of receiving the citizen of the year honor.

It came as a surprise, he said. Though Surkovich was asked to attend the event, he was not told about the honor.

“When we got there, we found out what it was,” Surkovich said.

Surkovich was chosen by a committee from a group of nominees, Hollidaysburg Councilman Joseph Dodson said.

“We thought he was an excellent candidate,” he said. “He raised a lot of money for the Knights of Columbus.”

Surkovich is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and Dodson mentioned a recent event where a Shelby Super Snake car was raffled.

The raffle, headed by Surkovich, raised more than $85,000 for the Knights, and $35,000 was donated to various charities.

Dodson praised Surkovich’s work, as well as his work ethic.

“He’s a fighter, and he is somebody that could easily sit back and say, ‘Pity poor me,'” Dodson said.

Dodson was referring to Surkovich’s illness. Surkovich was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease of the central nervous system, 28 years ago.

“I don’t like when people are diagnosed with something like that and they give up,” Surkovich said. “Don’t get me wrong. I do get down because of it, but I always come back fighting.”

That fight includes raising awareness about multiple sclerosis. Surkovich founded the Project Diagnosis Foundation with the intention of raising awareness about MS.

He has also written lyrics for the Project Diagnosis album, a rock album by the band Progmium. Surkovich said the album deals with the realities of someone living with MS, but people without the disease also enjoy it.

The idea for the album, Surkovich said, came after he retired from a technology teaching job with Hollidaysburg Area School District.

“It was getting where I was retiring, and I was really struggling with the fact that I had to retire early,” Surkovich said. “I’d get ideas about things I would want to write about.”

A musical friend read those writings and suggested they be put to music, Surkovich said.

“I never intended them to be a CD,” he said, explaining that when the album is purchased, a portion of the proceeds is donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Project Diagnosis album was not Surkovich’s first foray into music. He also wrote a song for his father, Richard, before he died.

“It was supposed to be more of a healing thing for me,” he said.

Surkovich said he used to have a service dog, and he shared that experience with others, too.

“I taught kids how you are supposed to treat someone when you see a service dog,” he said, describing his positive interactions with children. “It was hilarious.”

And Surkovich is involved in numerous other community groups, including the men’s club at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Hollidaysburg.

The church’s pastor Monsignor Stan Carson spoke kindly of Surkovich’s involvement.

“He is courteous and responsive with the needs of people,” Carson said. “He’s very generous with his time.”

Surkovich is married to his wife, Lisa, and they have three children — CJ, Kyle and Todd.

He is the 10th recipient of the citizen of the year honor since Dodson introduced it when he was the borough’s mayor.

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.

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