M.·. W.·. Edward Gilbert

Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York

M.·.W.·. Edward Gilbert of South Buffalo has been elected and installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons, State of New York. The Grand Master is the highest elected official in the leadership of the 54,000 member Masonic fraternity in New York State. He will be traveling extensively representing the Grand Lodge at Masonic and community events throughout the state.

Mr. Gilbert took the Grand Master’s Oath of Office on the historic St John’s Lodge No 1 Bible; the same Bible upon which George Washington took his Oath of Office as First President of the United States on the steps of Federal Hall in New York City in 1789.

“I am thankful to my Masonic brethren for their confidence in electing me to this highest office in our Grand jurisdiction,” said Grand Master Gilbert. “My goal for my term as Grand Master is to bring Masonry in New York State back to the basic tenets that have been the hallmark of our beloved fraternity for hundreds of years. These include love and support for our families, our Masonic Brothers and their families and of course, our great country.”

Mr. Gilbert is a lifelong resident of South Buffalo. He was raised as a Master Mason in Buffalo Lodge No. 846 over 40 years ago. He went on to he serve as Master of Buffalo Lodge in 1989-90 and 1993, and remains an active member of Western Star Lodge No. 1185, a new consolidated Lodge formed last year. He was appointed Moderator of the Erie County School of Instruction from 1994 to 1998, a key position in overseeing the Masonic ritual work in local Lodges in the Buffalo area. In 1999, Grand Master Stewart C. McCloud appointed him Grand Lecturer, the statewide officer in charge of Masonic rituals and ceremonies. He went on to serve as Grand Lecturer under three subsequent Grand Masters until he was elected Deputy Grand Master in 2006. Mr. Gilbert has also served on the Grand Master’s Education Committee.

Mr. Gilbert is also a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Buffalo. On August 27, 2007 he was coronated a 33° Mason at a special ceremony in Washington D.C. during the annual meeting of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Free Masonry. The 33° is awarded for outstanding achievement within the fraternity or for contributions to others reflecting credit upon the Masonic Fraternity.

Gilbert is retired from the General Motors Company, where he held various security positions over the years including heading up security at the company’s American Axle Plant.

Ed and his wife Helen, known to many as ‘Babe’, have been married for over 50 years and are the proud parents of daughter Donna and sons Michael, Mark and Matthew. Michael and Matt Gilbert have followed their Dad into the Masonic fraternity, with Matt serving two terms as Master of the former Buffalo-Lakeland Lodge and going on to serve as the first Worshipful Master of the newly consolidated Western Star Lodge. The Gilberts also have twin grandsons.

Deputy Grand Master: R.·.W.·. Vincent Libone

R.·.W.·. Vincent Libone of Bayside was recently elected to his first term as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York. Mr. Libone had previously served as Grand Treasurer from 2004-2006. As Deputy Grand Master, Mr. Libone will carry out the executive functions of the Grand Lodge as delegated to him by Grand Master Edward G. Gilbert of South Buffalo, and such duties delegated to him under the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge on behalf of the 54,000 Masons in the state of New York.

Mr. Libone recently retired as the President of the Enobil Partition, Inc. in New York City. He has previously served as an interior general contractor.

Mr. Libone said, “I will work and strive to accomplish the coming together in harmony and unity of our brethren, under the leadership of our new Grand Master, the Most Worshipful Edward G. Gilbert.”

Mr. Libone’s distinguished Masonic service began in 1973, when he was raised in Garibaldi Lodge No. 542 in Manhattan. He has served as Grand Marshal (1998-2000), and has been a member of several District and Grand Lodge Committees, including the Grand Lodge Convention Committee, for which he was Vice Chairman from 2002-04; he was a consultant to that committee from 2004-06.

"For almost 35 years, Brother Libone has demonstrated his commitment to his fellow Masons, and to the betterment of his community and of the fraternity,” said Grand Master Edward G. Gilbert in commenting on the election of Mr. Libone. “In his professional life and in his family life, I have known Brother Libone to adhere to the Masonic virtues of friendship, moral values and brotherly love. I am proud that he will serve the Grand Lodge and its members as Deputy Grand Master, and I look forward to working with him.”

Mr. Libone is a lifelong Queens resident; he currently lives in Bayside with his wife, Virginia. They have two married daughters and three grandchildren.

Senior Grand Warden: R.·.W.·. Bruce Renner

W. Bruce Renner of Buffalo was recently sworn in as Senior Grand Warden for the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York. Mr. Renner, a member of the Grand Master’s Grand Line, holds the third highest elected office of Freemasonry in New York State. As Senior Grand Warden, Mr. Renner will assist in the affairs of the Grand Lodge and will also carry out tasks and activities as directed by the Grand Master, Edward G. Gilbert of South Buffalo, on behalf of the 54,000 Masons throughout the Empire State.

"Brother Renner is an outstanding citizen and a model Mason, one whom I believe others can look to as an example of the good work that Freemasons do in their communities,” said Grand Master Gilbert, in commenting on Mr. Renner’s election as Senior Grand Warden. “He brings invaluable experience to the Grand Lodge, from the development of training programs and Masonic materials to overseeing funding streams for our various programs and charitable activities. We are proud to have Brother Renner as a member of the Grand Line.”

Mr. Renner expressed his appreciation to the Masons of New York for electing him to this high office. He further remarked, “Working with the Grand Master’s Advisory Committee for the past two years convinced me that this was the right time to stand for election as Senior Grand Warden. I find myself very much in agreement with the Grand Master’s direction and look forward to assisting him over the next two years.“

Brother W. Bruce Renner was raised a Master Mason in 1970 in the Lodge of the Ancient Landmarks, No. 441, in Buffalo. In 1998, Bruce was appointed to a two year term as Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of F&AM of the State of New York. He has served as Senior Grand Deacon, Deputy Grand Marshal, and Grand Marshal, and was a member of the Grand Lodge Education Assistance Committee for seven years. He also served on the Advisory Committees for Past Grand Masters Carl J. Smith and Edward R. Trosin, and was also on the Deputy Grand Master’s Advisory Committee.

In 2002 he was appointed a member of The Brotherhood Foundation. In 2006, he was elected a Trustee of Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Library and Museum.

Brother Renner received the Livingston Medal in 2005 for his service to Freemasonry. In 2006, he was made an honorary member of the 2004-2006 Metropolitan District Deputies Association.

Junior Grand Warden: R.·.W.·. Thomas McMullin

Thomas “Tim” McMullin of Endicott, New York was recently sworn in as Junior Grand Warden for the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York. In his post Mr. McMullin will assist Senior Grand Warden Bruce Renner with tasks and activities as directed by the Grand Master, Edward G. Gilbert of South Buffalo on behalf of the 54,000 Masons in the state of New York.

"Brother McMullin is a valued member of our Grand Lodge, one who has devoted his time and energies to improving and expanding Masonic educational and charitable activities,” said Grand Master Gilbert in commenting on the election of Brother McMullin. “His experience as a teacher and a volunteer with the American Red Cross disaster services speaks volumes about his character, and I look forward to working with Brother McMullin as we work to spread the word about the good works the Masons have done throughout New York State.”

Mr. McMullin, commenting on his election, said “Across the state, Masons support a wide range of community service projects that make a difference, especially in the lives of children. I look forward to my role in continuing the Masonic tradition of helping others, building character, and enjoying the camaraderie of friends.”

Brother McMullin was raised in St. Mark’s Philetus Lodge No. 1001 in Vestal, Broome County in 1988. He served as Master of the Lodge in 2000-2001. Brother McMullin is also a member of Johnson City Unity Lodge No. 970, is a member of the Scottish Rite and York Rite, and is Past Potentate of the Kalurah Shriners. Since 2004, he has served as Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee of the Masonic Student Assistance Training (MSAT) program, which helps school staff to identify students at risk.

Brother McMullin and his wife, Elaine, live in Endicott, New York and have two grown children: son Sean and daughter Carrie. He retired as principal in the Vestal Public School system, where he also taught high school mathematics. For eight years, he was an active volunteer member of the American Red Cross Disaster Services, which included a two-month stint managing the Disaster Assistance Service Center at Pier 94 after the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks.

Grand Treasurer: R.·.W.·. Marino Cesarini

Marino Cesarini, a resident of Mineola, was elected to and sworn in for the post of Grand Treasurer for the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York. In this post, Mr. Cesarini will oversee all fiscal matters for the Grand Lodge on behalf of the 54,000 Masons throughout New York State.

Mr. Cesarini was raised in Cornucopia Lodge No. 563 in Flushing in 1979. He served as Master of the Lodge in 1985 and 1991. He is also a member of Garibaldi Lodge No. 542 in Manhattan. Mr. Cesarini has served on several Grand Lodge committees since 1987, including the Education and Deputy Grand Master advisory committees. He is also a member of the Royal Arch Masons and Police Square Club concordant bodies.

“Marino has given of himself to this country by serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and has given back to his community, whether through coaching youth sports teams, or in his activities as a Freemason,” remarked Grand Master Edward G. Gilbert. “He has succeeded as a local businessman and has served with distinction as a member of the New York City Police Department. The post of treasurer calls for the highest levels of integrity and fiscal acumen, and Brother Cesarini has both qualities in droves. I look forward to working with him.”

“I am proud to have this opportunity to serve the Grand Lodge of New York and the members of this Grand Jurisdiction as their Grand Treasurer. I look forward to working with our Grand Master, Edward G. Gilbert, and the entire Grand Line. I foresee the next two years as a time of growth in our fraternity”.

Mr. Cesarini was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and an instructor for the Marines at Parris Island in South Carolina. He is currently a production manager at TanaSeybert Graphics in Manhattan. He served with the New York City Police Department beginning in 1969, retiring in 1987. He worked most of his police career in plainclothes in the Citywide Anti- Crime Unit.

Mr. Cesarini currently lives in Mineola with his wife, Theresa. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Grand Secretary: R.·. W.·. Gilbert Savitzky

R.·.W.·. Gilbert Savitzky of Forest Hills, Queens was sworn in recently for a fifth consecutive term as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons, State of New York.

Mr. Savitzky oversees day-to-day administration of the more than 220-year-old fraternal organization in New York, one of the oldest Masonic Lodges in the world, comprising 54,000 Masons throughout the state. Mr. Savitzsky is a retired New York State real estate agent who previously owned his own retail textile corporation.

After beginning his Masonic career in 1963 at the John Hancock Lodge No. 70, Mr. Savitzky became a District Deputy Grand Master in 1979. He also served as Grand Treasurer from 1989 to 1990 and was a founder and State Chairman of the Grand Lodge “Masonic Toys for Tots” Program.

Mr. Savitzky is a lifelong resident of New York City. He and his wife Barbara have two grown daughters, Margie and Lisa.

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