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Rev. Al Kamm, 90 year celebration
A special reception was held last week to honor Rev. Al Kamm's 90th birthday and 58 years of service to the Community and the Clifton Springs Hospital. The event was hosted by: the Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, The First Baptist Church and the Clifton Springs Rotary Club. It was so nice to see so many come and offer Rev. Kamm kind words of congratulations and appreciation, as he has touched so many lives in our village. There were several guests who spoke to the large gathering offering their thoughts and feelings about this special man. Included among the speakers were: John Galati (CEO of the Hospital), Ralph Adams (reading one of his poems), Doug Finch (Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Brian Kolb), Reverend J. Thomas Raisner (Pastor of The First Baptist Church), and George Hubbard (close personal friend).
Bill Hunter (Clifton Springs Mayor) read the official village proclamation, which is intended to:
" Recognize Reverend Kamm who has enhanced the growth and development of our community
" Recognize through a village commemoration, 58 years out of Reverend Kamm's 90 years of life
" To offer a time to pause and reflect on the many services rendered through exemplary service
" Recognize and give tribute for the display of a long and sustained commitment to the village
" To offer a special "Thank You" and proudly commend and honor Albert Kamm on his 90th birthday and 58 years of service to the Clifton Springs Community and Hospital.
Harry and Sena Kamm had 11 children born in Nebraska, which included Al and his twin brother Alfred born in 1916. After college Albert became a history teacher, until joining the army in 1939. His time in the Army included being part of the Normandy invasion.
In 1945 Al married is wife, Cathy, and in 1946 moved to Rochester where Al entered Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Two years later while still finishing his studies, Al took a position at the Clifton Springs Baptist Church. In 1952 there was an opening for the Chaplain position at the Hospital, which was offered to Rev. Kamm, and was accepted. Along with his job as Chaplain he often filled in, without hesitation, at the Baptist Church when needed.
There have only been 15 Chaplains at the Hospital since 1864, most serving only a few years. Rev. Kim's 54 years of service is a testimonial to his hard work and dedication. Among his duties, he was to continue holding daily religious services, which had already been going on since the era of Dr. Foster's first Water Cure. The holding of the daily service continued into the 1970's before they were discontinued. Today Rev. Kamm still holds a service every Sunday morning.
When he became the Chaplain, Rev. Kamm, along with his family, moved in to the "Chaplain's Cottage" which was located behind the Foster Cottage next to the Sulphur Brook. The Kamm family was one of only three families that lived in the Chaplain Cottage, which was built in 1927. Reverend Kamm and his family moved out of the cottage in 1987 to their home on Pleasant St
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