Martha Cusimano, a dedicated community leader from the Lehigh Valley, passed away on November 30, 2023, at the age of 82. Her family is now working to fulfill her final wish by establishing a food pantry and community center in Kissimmee, Florida. This project aims to honor her legacy of service and generosity, which spanned decades and two states.
Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1943, Cusimano was raised in a family that valued faith and community service. Her mother was a special education teacher, while her father worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. Cusimano met her husband, Jim, during their time in a Catholic Youth leadership group in high school. This shared upbringing instilled in them a commitment to community involvement, which continued throughout their lives.
After relocating to Pennsylvania in 1970, the Cusimanos quickly became active in their community. Martha’s reputation as a generous host was well-known, as she frequently entertained neighbors, clergy, and friends in their Hanover Township home. Her dedication to service was evident in her initiatives, including the first marathon for Catholic schools in 1979, which raised over $50,000 in its inaugural year.
Cusimano’s career included significant roles in public relations, where she served as the lead spokesperson for St. Luke’s Hospital and later organized the Concours d’Elegance, a vintage car show that raised more than $100,000 annually for the Burn Prevention Foundation. She also founded the Lehigh Valley Auto Show, which has become an essential event for local dealers and charities, generating approximately $150,000 each year for regional causes.
Despite facing a long battle with breast cancer, which began in 2006, Cusimano remained active in her community. After moving to Florida in 2008, she continued her commitment to service, leading fundraising efforts for the St. Rose of Lima Church and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Her final project was the Lima Center, a proposed facility to expand the church’s food pantry and provide a space for community gatherings. This initiative is particularly significant, as the church’s pantry served over 70,000 people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her family, Cusimano’s last words emphasized her desire to see the Lima Center project completed. She had already helped raise $4 million for the initiative but needed an additional $300,000 to finalize the construction. In response to her passing, friends and family have launched a fundraising campaign to achieve this goal.
Jim Cusimano reflected on his wife’s impact, stating, “She was a very generous person and leader. She was able to attract others to help her in the various missions that she conducted.” The campaign can be found on GoFundMe, aiming to honor Martha Cusimano’s enduring legacy of community service.
For those wishing to contribute, the fundraising campaign is available at gofund.me/ef3e926a4. The community continues to rally around this project, ensuring that Martha’s spirit of giving and commitment to helping others lives on through the Lima Center.
