“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis
What does it take to live on for others after you are gone? It can be hard to hold on to the small, everyday acts of kindness that define a person, but Marblehead Counseling Center felt it was important to honor a woman whose entire adult life was dedicated to helping other people.
The Amy R. Saltz Community Champions Award, now in its second year, is meant to acknowledge the many unsung heroes in our North Shore community who give of their time, energy, money and mentorship to improve life for others.
“I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge all that Amy stood for than to honor community members who work tirelessly to make our world a better place,” says Ruth Ferguson, president of the MCC Board of Directors. “She would have been so proud of that.”
Saltz, who died in 2023 at the age of 62, believed in ‘paying it forward,’ particularly to causes and organizations like MCC that were close to her heart. Saltz was the author of the book, “Finding the Song: Living after Attempting Suicide.”
“Amy’s response to her own challenges in life,” says Rabbi David Meyer, rabbi emeritus at Temple Emanu-El and a friend of Saltz’s for 30 years, “was always to reach out and help other people and bring love. Much of what she did was under the radar.”
That selfless spirit and willingness to give to others despite her own struggles is the inspiration behind Marblehead Counseling Center’s Amy R. Saltz Community Champions Award, inaugurated in May, 2025. Last year’s winner was Marblehead resident Anne Tassel-Todisco, and an associated $1,000 Community Service Scholarship was awarded to Camila Ferrer Gomez of Danvers.
Ferguson says the MCC is currently looking for nominees from Marblehead and surrounding areas for the award and scholarship.
“We had so many great nominees last year, and we can’t wait to read this year’s applications. It is really eye opening to see just how many really wonderful people are out there working to make life better for others.”
Dr. Harvey Zarren, a close friend to Saltz for 17 years, says her selflessness was remarkable.
“Amy was an extremely bright woman, who could have been anything she wanted,” according to Zarren. “She was totally well rounded, and she was willing to share her life experiences to teach others.”
He says that the two of them taught at Tufts Medical School and in area hospitals, helping medical professionals better understand patients struggling with mental health issues and advocating a program of compassionate care.
“Amy really had a way of alleviating suffering in others. She did incredible things in spite of her challenges,” he says.
Amy’s younger sister Judy Kowalczyk says that one of the things she most admired about her sister was her bravery, and her determination not to give up.
“Looking back, it is an amazing story of courage,” Kowalczyk believes, explaining that the physical effects of Amy’s teenage suicide attempt left her having to relearn some of the most basic skills, such as how to eat again.
“It was excruciatingly painful. But she didn’t give up. And the thing about my sister I really love is that she just wanted to help other people who may have had some of the same feelings and struggles that were similar to hers. She was a really good person in her heart.”
In a speech she gave shortly before her death, Saltz herself acknowledged the perseverance that her journey demanded. Kowalczyk says her sister’s determination was inspiring, but Zarren adds that in the 17 years he knew Saltz, she was not one to hang herself up on regrets. Instead, he says, Saltz took a joyous approach to life and amassed an impressive list of personal accomplishments: Saltz was an artist and calligrapher, a musician, Mah Jong teacher, a librarian and the award-winning author of four books.
Teri Allen McDonough, LSW, is the social service coordinator at Marblehead Counseling Center, and knew Amy for nearly a decade. The three words she uses to describe her friend are beautiful, soulful and compassionate.
“I have an email from Amy that states, ‘my entire being has been rejoicing since our meeting last week.’ That just captures Amy’s spirit.” McDonough recalls that throughout the pandemic, her friend would make her smile by yelling to her every morning from her window. “Unless she was out riding her bike in her fluorescent yellow vest,” she says.
“I talked to her almost every day in her last months,” Zarren relates. “And I would say I consider Amy in many ways a mentor of how to be out in the world.”
Kowalczyk says that her big sister would be so proud and honored to be noticed for the things she tried to bring to others, and the ways she had an impact on her community.
“Amy always looked at the world in a very deep way. She was very sensitive. This award would feel like such a great sense of accomplishment to her.”
To nominate a community member for the 2026 Amy Saltz Community Champions Award, which recognizes an individual making significant contributions to the health and wellness of our residents, please go to the Marblehead Counseling Center website: marbleheadcounseling.org/awards/community-champions-award/.
To apply for the $1,000 MCC Community Scholarship Award, developed to help young graduates who are interested in making significant contributions in the health and wellness field in the future, please go to marbleheadcounseling.org/awards/mcc-scholarship-award/.
This article was submitted by the Marblehead Counseling Center.
