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Winners will be announced on August 25

SilverSneakers members inspire those around them with their resilience, connection and unstoppable drive to improve their lives. It’s time to recognize these extraordinary people with your votes for the 2025 Member of the Year awards. We will announce one winner per category:

SilverSneakers Member of the Year Activity Award: These are the gym warriors – in class every day, setting goals and crushing them. They consistently set the bar and continue to raise it. Fitness is their passion, inside and outside the gym.
SilverSneakers Member of the Year Inspiration Award: These people have an unstoppable spirit. They continue to rise above life’s challenges. They turn obstacles into opportunity and keep showing up. Their stories are a beacon of hope and perseverance.

Activity Award Finalist

Inspiration Award Finalist

Meet Beaver, the 2024 Member of the Year award winner!

Grayling Brown, “Beaver,” is a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He served his country in the Vietnam War as a Marine. He is active in the community, his church and advocates to end racial inequality. Beaver is dedicated and committed to living a healthy lifestyle and can be found walking or running on the levee or local track, working out at the Gramercy Anytime Fitness club, attending ﬁtness classes and taking yoga classes to keep himself balanced, centered and grounded. For Beaver, ﬁtness provides beneﬁts physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. It brings him great joy to inspire others in ﬁtness and in life. “Class is not the same if Beaver is not there,” an instructor shared. “Leave it to Beaver to make this world a better place with his infectious laugh, humor and smile.”

Ray Hall, 75
Opelika, AL – Humana
Anytime Fitness – Opelika, AL

Ray won a heaviest lifter award in 2024 prior to battling a series of back surgeries and complications that threatened his mobility. Ray proves he is “tough as nails” and continues to inspire gymgoers in his community.

Leslie Basilone, 66
Wexford, PA – Aetna
Pine Community Center – Wexford, PA

Despite having multiple sclerosis and Hashimoto’s disease, Leslie continues to show up for herself and others. She transitioned from member to instructor, just seven months after a total knee replacement.

George Fenigsohn, 77
Poquoson, VA – Anthem
Snap Fitness – Poquoson, VA

George is a former nationally ranked race walker who has refused to let a debilitating stroke stop him from being active. George needs three things for his recovery: walk, Snap, swim. His perseverance inspires his family and community.

Becky Wehr, 75
Barnesville, OH – The Health Plan
Ferrum Fit – Barnesville, OH

Becky’s resilience and positive attitude keep her moving as a leader in her local Kiwanis Club, The Belmont County Museum and Town Newspaper. For Becky, exercise is not a chore but a celebration of perseverance.

Cecilia Gomez, 93
Smithtown, NY – Aetna
Gold’s Gym – Smithtown, NY

Cecilia, lovingly called “Babu” (short for abuela) by the neighborhood kids, is a cancer survivor devoted to the gym and her church choir for 30 years. Showing no signs of stopping, she inspires everyone around her including her 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Gerald Leinbach, 99
Palmyra, PA – Humana
Annville Fitness Center – Annville, PA
PA Fitness – Hershey, PA

Gerald is a WWII and Korean War Navy Veteran who not only keeps up with SilverSneakers classes, but can also be spotted in Yoga class, and doing yardwork and gardening. Gerald is looking forward to his 100th birthday in January 2026.

Claude Massengill, 80
Brooklyn, MI – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Anytime Fitness – Brooklyn, MI

Claude, an Army Veteran, is always challenging himself and others to show up more. Outside the gym, he bikes and walks at his local state park and purchased his first motorcycle last spring.

Jim Hill, 69
Lewistown, PA – UPMC for Life
Anytime Fitness – Burnham, PA

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Bob Christensen, 92
Galena, IL – Aetna
Midwest Health & Fitness Center – Galena, IL

Bob balances an active lifestyle inside and outside the gym. He leads a growing group of seniors that gathers daily. He celebrated his 90th birthday by skydiving and participates in the annual Galena 5K Walk.

Anne H. Thibodeaux, 78
New Orleans, LA – Humana
SilverSneakers Online

Anne attends 11 online classes weekly, while staying connected with her classmates and instructor through in-person activities like local luncheons and book club. She recently met her goal of climbing to the top of the Rocky steps in Philadelphia without stopping.

Karen LaFrance, 61
Venice, FL – Humana
Workout Anytime – Venice, FL