Southampton's People of the Year

Like Time magazine names a Person of the Year each December, Patch decided to find out who readers think are Southampton's People of the Year. Here are 10 people who had a great year, or did great things for the community this year. And you can help name the Reader's Choice by voting in the poll below.

Here's how the voting will work: From now until Dec. 31 at noon, we will be taking your vote by poll (It's anonymous). Just sign-in and click the person you think is most deserving. Only vote once (otherwise, what's the fun?). In addition, feel free to leave a note in the comments as to why that person deserves the recognition. 

Bob Chaloner, the president & CEO of , is a Person of the Year for stabilizing the hospital since he took the helm five years ago and "putting it on the road to becoming one of the best community hospital's in the region."

Roseann Gentile of  is a Person of the Year for dedicating so much of her free time to helping students, for many, many years. "You can find students both current and from 20 years ago plus, including myself who will attest to her warmth, generosity and reliability," Gentile's nominator wrote. "She has aided in countless programs both in and out of school including roller skating, school plays in both the middle and high schools, the , 5Ks, Christmas gift drives and volunteering" at . "She is not only a wonderful asset to the local schools but to the entire community, as well as an amazing mother and friend to many people."

John v.H. Halsey, the president of , is a Person of the Year because he has "devoted his life to perservation of open space, natural land and working farms on the East End — all of the things that make us who we are as a community. It’s our heritage and our legacy to the next generation that John has worked tirelessly for since he started the Trust in 1982. ... His influence is felt from Washington, D.C., to Albany, to the local towns and villages, to the farmers and landowners for whom he works. A current project of the Trust, and one of John’s personal passions, is keeping farmland affordable and accessible for the next generation of new and young farmers who want to get into agriculture on the East End but find the cost of land prohibitive."

, a former Southampton Town supervisor and to reclaim the job, is a Person of the Year for being Southampton's "Comeback Kid." She waged "a very viable write-in campaign after a stint in the political graveyard due to a a couple of years ago."

Mary Ann Tupper, the executive director of , is a Person of the Year for her dedication to Southampton's neediest. Human Resources provides clothing, food, heating assistance and more.

, an activist for gay rights, among other causes, is a Person of the Year for her dedication to making a difference. According to her nominator, she "was a mover and shaker and rain maker helping the citizens of New York State take the much needed and long delayed moral leap to for all. Look at any progressive campaign or cause vital to democracy on the East End and you will find Lisa not only involved but providing leadership, courage and a great role model for young people. Lisa is active with the Eastern Long Island Branch of the NAACP under the able leadership of veteran freedom fighter, Lou Ware. She has been a stalwart organizer in Democratic politics and has represented women and young people in the Southampton Anti-Bias Task Force. Lisa's husband, Matauqus, is a activist."

Katherine Wilson, who provides care to both wild and domesticated animals, is a Person of the Year for selflessly giving to animal causes, personally caring for injured deer, nursing feral cats back to health and volunteering with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Rescue and Ducks Unlimited, and much more. "She is not afraid of any wild animal and will do whatever it takes to get the animal treated and back to its natural state in the wild," Wilson's nominator wrote. "Katherine always has the animals best interest at heart and has left her house at 3 a.m. to respond to an animal in distress call. She is absolutely brilliant and her love and respect of animals is most admirable!"

Anna Throne-Holst, the supervisor of Southampton Town, is a Person of the Year for steering the town through a recession and, when it came time for her re-election campaign, no one even wanted to attempt to get on the ballot to challenge her.

Kathleen King Friedman, the owner and founder of , is a Person of the Year because in 2011 she was recognized multiple times for her entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropy. The Pioneer Chapter of Hadassah in Westhampton, a Jewish woman's organization, named Friedman its Woman of the Year. Girls Incorporated

Brenda Simmons, a co-founder of the African-American Museum of the East End, is a Person of the Year for all her good works and accomplishments in Southampton Village and the greater area. Simmons has her own show on LTV called "Voices of Wisdom," is a life coach for young women, and a mentor for inmates at the Riverhead Correctional Facility. She from Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman in March during the unveiling of the sign at the museum's future home.