From OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGING
The Ohio Department of Aging (AGE) will posthumously induct Denise C. Niese into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame during a special ceremony at the Statehouse Atrium in Columbus on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Niese will be recognized by AGE, the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio’s area agencies on aging, and leaders from Ohio’s aging network. She is among 10 older Ohioans being inducted to the Hall of Fame this year for their lifelong contributions to their communities, their professions, and their vocations.
The Ohio Channel will live stream the induction ceremony. Starting at approximately 1:30 p.m., the event will be viewable at the following link:
Watch ceremony live: Wednesday, Sept. 10 @ 1:30 p.m.
“These 10 amazing inductees show the depth and breadth of what is possible from older Ohioans,” said AGE Director Ursel J. McElroy. “All exemplary contributors to their field, they inspire us to continue our work to make Ohio the best place to age in the nation. They are all truly deserving of this honor, and we are greatly looking forward to recognizing them in September.”
Niese made a career and a life out of serving older adults in Ohio. Most recently the executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging (WCCOA) since 2005, she had an ability to inspire others as well as a determination to make a difference on a national, state, and local level.
During Niese’s life, she carried a deep and abiding passion for the well-being of older adults and family caregivers, and she was able to create programs and services that bettered the lives of older adults and their families.
Niese secured State of Ohio capital funding to build a production kitchen that serves over 1,000 congregate and home-delivered meals every day at eight senior centers in Wood County. She also secured $1.6 million in funding to build the 36,000-square foot Wood County Senior Center, 140 S. Grove St., Bowling Green, and later additional funding to renovate the basement in that facility.
Before her passing, Niese also helped open and operate the Wood County Adult Day Program in partnership with Memory Lane Services. Her leadership also helped WCCOA earn national accreditation from the National Council on Aging and the National Institutes of Senior.
In 2021, Niese was named a Trailblazer in Aging by the National Council on Aging, an award which recognizes individuals and organizations around the country that work toward a just and caring society that allows everyone to age with dignity, purpose, and security. In 2018, the Ohio Association of Senior Citizens recognized her for the work she did to protect Ohio’s most vulnerable persons.
Niese passed away on Nov. 29, 2024, at the age of 63.
Photos and full bios of all 2025 inductees are available here.
Since 1977, the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame has celebrated the many ways older Ohioans make their communities, state, and nation stronger. It honors Ohioans age 60 and older for their achievements and contributions to others, the roles they play in their communities or vocations, and what they do to promote productive and enjoyable lives. The 2025 inductees range in age from 61 to 103, and bring the total number of Hall of Fame members to 524.
