Retirees packed the ballroom at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan for the 53rd annual RTC luncheon on June 13. For a complete report on the event, see page 39. above: Pearl Berger Award winners (from left) Marian Thom, Carmella Gallucci, Eric Metzger, Barbara Waldmann and Yvonne Ben Aaman show off their plaques.

Retirees honored for 50 years of UFT membership squeeze onto the stage at the New York Hilton at the 53rd annual Retired Teachers Chapter Luncheon.

Retirees applaud award winners at the morning ceremony.

Murray Blasz (left) and Peter Lytell accept an Award of Recognition for their work tutoring immigrants for citizenship exams.

The Pearl Berger Award winners include (from left) Marian Thom, Carmela Galluci, Eric Metzger, Barbara Waldmann and Yvonne Ben Aaman.

Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy (left) stands with Edith Potter-Anne Reel Award winners (from second left) Frederick McKinnon, Audrey Zimring and the daughter of Ely Cohen who could not attend the ceremony.

Dina Grillo (second from right) and Christina Zill (right), winners of the Federation of Nurses/UFT Retiree of the Year Awards, are joined by Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy and Anne Goldman, the UFT vice president for non-DOE members.

NYSUT Community Service Award winners with their plaques (from third left) Patricia Bonadonna, Norma Gerard, 99-year-old Beatrice Nebel and Harold Rosen are flanked by NYSUT leaders and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy (far left).

Everyone joins in the singing of the national anthem.

RTC Treasurer Vincent Gaglione (left) receives the NYSUT Retiree of the Year Award from NYSUT President Karen Magee as Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy and UFT President Michael Mulgrew look on.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew praises retirees for all they continue to contribute to the union.

Carol Gerstl, a recent retiree and former union counsel, accepts the Tom Pappas Award.