Pat Guanciale, man of many hats, receives Licking Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award
NEWARK – He's known to some as a real estate agent. Others see his social media posts of firefighters battling a local blaze. For Newark Fire Department members, he's one of them. Community leaders have sought his advice at various organization board meetings.
Pat Guanciale is a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Realty. He’s an honorary member of the Newark Fire Department. He’s a photographer. He’s been board chairman for Licking Memorial Hospital and Licking County Chamber of Commerce and helped form the Grow Licking County community improvement corporation.
He is also the 2023 recipient of the Licking Memorial Health Systems Lifetime Achievement Award.
Guanciale’s community involvement seemingly knows no bounds. He’s been a member of the Newark Catholic High School and Licking Memorial Health foundation boards, Licking Memorial Health Systems board and Newark Rotary Club.
He supports various charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Licking and Perry County. For years, he's picked who wears the groundhog costume at the annual Licking County Chamber of Commerce Groundhog Breakfast.
“Just looking at the list of past recipients, I look at that list and I think I don’t belong on there,” Guanciale said. “I’m very appreciative of the award. I’m really nobody. I’m just an ordinary guy.
“We have a lot of great volunteers in the Licking County area. We’ve got to credit all the volunteers in Licking County for making us a class place to live, work and play.”
The list of previous recipients includes Sarah Wallace, Pat Jefferies, Bill Mann, Chris Meyer, Jim Matesich and Drs. Mary Beth and Tom Hall.
It’s not the first time Guanciale has been recognized for his efforts. The agent for Coldwell Banker Realty received the William Howard Public Service Award from the Ohio State Fire Marshall Commission and the Jerry White Award at the 2020 Coldwell Banker Realty Awards. Twice he was named Realtor of the Year by the Licking County Board of Realtors and received its $100 Million Dollar Club Award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, created in 1989, is the highest award Licking Memorial bestows annually. Nominees must be of good moral character, show their work has provided a better quality of life for Licking County citizens and provided strong leadership in more than one organization or activity.
“Patrick has been involved with the Licking County community for over 45 years, working to enhance the quality of life for all residents by championing the area to promote economic development,” Licking Memorial President and CEO Rob Montagnese said. “He is generous with his time and leadership skills.”
Guanciale is a volunteer like none other. How many other real estate agents respond to fires at all hours just to help out? He takes photos of the firefighters on a scene and posts them to social media, letting the community know what's happening.
Guanciale, who always wanted to be a firefighter, regularly visited with firefighters at the old West End Station at 30th and West Main streets on his walk home from Cherry Valley Elementary School.
Today, he goas to the scene of just about every fire in the city to see if he can help. He celebrated his 70th birthday two years ago at NFD Station 5 on Sharon Valley Road. He has been provided a NFD coat with his name on it, a helmet and a cap with "Unit G" on the front.
Newark Fire Chief Brandon Metzger said one of the first people all new firefighters are introduced to is Guanciale, who goes to all the fires, unlike firefighters who work on shifts.
“He’s an outstanding human being," Metzger said. "It’s hard to define everything Pat does. He’s a huge ambassador for the fire service. He’s always there for anyone who needs to talk to someone. He just fills any need we have. There’s probably not one person more valued to our people than Pat.”
Guanciale's son, Andrew, also a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker, said responding to fires is just something his dad has always done.
“Ever since I can remember, it was nothing for him to leave at 2 in the morning, 4 in the morning, 4 in the afternoon or 9 at night," Andrew Guanciale said.
“We’ve been on family vacations and there's a fire in town and they’ll call and say, 'Where are you?' It’s probably one of the reasons he doesn’t enjoy leaving town. He’d feel like he let them down if he’s not there.”
Guanciale's contributions were invaluable for Grow Licking County and the Licking County Chamber of Commerce.
Cheri Hottinger, former chamber president and CEO, said Guanciale's advice was highly valued because of his widespread knowledge of the community.
“I think it’s his perspective," Hottinger said. "He knows so many people through his community and business relationships. He’s a huge asset to our community. He can call anybody, and people trust him. He’s earned the trust and respect of anybody in our community. He was my go-to person.”
Heath Mayor Mark Johns said Guanciale was a key contributor in the 2012 formation of Grow Licking County.
“Pat was an important piece in building the foundation of the Grow Licking County organization,” Johns said. “His perspective through his profession was something of value the entire time on the board.
“Pat’s influence and contributions to Grow Licking County were as great as anybody involved with the organization. The common thread through all (his involvements) is he cares deeply for the community, Licking County.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Pat Guanciale receives Licking Memorial's Lifetime Achievement Award
