Sunapee volunteer Sue Gottling to receive state older adult honor

A Sunapee volunteer who has already been recognized by her town for more than 15 years of service is now being singled out statewide, with Sue Gottling chosen for New Hampshire’s Older Adult Volunteer Award.

Governor Kelly Ayotte’s office said Gottling will receive the honor as one of the state’s county-level recipients, a selection that puts a familiar Sunapee name into a program reserved for volunteers age 60 and older whose work strengthens their communities. The awards are presented each May during Older Americans Month, and one recipient is chosen from every county in New Hampshire.

The State Commission on Aging took over the program in 2019, but the recognition dates back much further. State aging officials trace it to the Joseph D. Vaughan Award, introduced in 1962. The commission says the nomination process can weigh service hours, the community need met, and examples of how the volunteer inspired others, a structure that favors sustained involvement over a single gesture.

Town records identify Gottling as Suzanne Gottling, chair of the Sunapee Selectboard. The Town of Sunapee recognized her on March 2, 2026, for more than 15 years of dedicated service to the community, underscoring the role she has played locally well before the state honor arrived.

That local role matters in a place like Sunapee, where civic life depends heavily on residents who show up for boards, committees, events and nonprofit work. Volunteer labor often fills the gaps that would otherwise leave town operations thinner, especially in small communities where a limited number of people carry much of the load. The state’s decision to elevate Gottling points to a broader reality in Sullivan County: public service often rests on the steady, unpaid work of older residents who keep organizations and local government functioning.

The recognition also lands in a state with an aging population. New Hampshire’s State Commission on Aging says the state has the second-oldest population by median age in the country, a demographic trend that helps explain why older-adult volunteerism has become such a visible priority.

For residents who want to support similar work, the state’s award criteria offer a practical template: volunteer service can include direct service, advocacy or leadership, and the strongest nominations document hours, the need being met and the impact on the community. In Sunapee, Gottling’s selection serves as a reminder that those acts of service are not just appreciated locally, they are now being measured against the best in the state.