While he’s noted for owning the largest car dealership in Saugerties, Bob Siracusano is even better known for all the philanthropic works he does within the community, and now he’s also known as the Saugerties Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Person of the Year. Chamber members selected Siracusano as Business Person of the Year at their March meeting.
Siracusano, owner of Sawyer Motors on Ulster Avenue, along with his brother, Larry, dealership employees, countless friends, and more than 100 volunteers, put on the annual Sawyer Motors Car Show, which will be held this year on July 8, organized the annual Holiday in the Village celebration, the gala and golf tournament that raised funds for the Saugerties Athletic Association, and this year are raising money to make wishes come true through the Make-a-Wish Foundation for two youngsters.
Some of the anonymous comments from those who nominated Siracusano for the awards included:
“I nominate Bob Siracusano for the business person of the year due to all the good he does for Saugerties.
1) Puts on the annual car show, which brings a lot of extra business to the village and town, he does not allow any outside vendors that day so all the sale of food etc. goes to the village business.
2) Holiday in the Village where over $10,000 worth of toys were given away to children up to age 12.
3) He is always there to support and help when someone is in need, whether by giving a donation or a helping hand.”
“I would like to nominate Robert Siracusano of Sawyer Motors in Saugerties. Bob, as most people know him, is number one when it comes to supporting his community. He runs many events for the community, the biggest being the Sawyer Motors Car show. I am sure if you asked any of the businesses along Main Street if they could pick their most profitable day of the year they would all conclude it to be the day of the car show. This is an exceptional event put on by an exceptional man – Bob Siracusano.
Bob has also been instrumental in the expansion of Christmas in the village. This event has grown in the past two years because of his involvement. This year over ten thousand dollars worth of toys was given away to the children of Saugerties.
He always puts his community first.”
“I’m really excited by the award,” Siracusano said. “My people who work for me are just as excited.”
“I’ve always believed that what goes around, comes around, and I thank God that people keep buying the cars so we can continue to do this,” he added.
Of all the folks that volunteer their time or donate to sponsor the events that Bob and Sawyer Motors’ run, he says, “they believe in the same thing that I do, and we love the community that we live in.”
Because of the generosity of donors to the car show, this year’s event will have an operating budget of $45,000, which, Siracusano said, “will allow us to have four bands.”
Siracusano and his family moved to Saugerties from Long Island when he was 14 years old. After graduating from high school he went into the Army, and then when he got out, he went to work for Sears, where he was employed in retail sales for 18 years.
“While there I learned how to take care of customers,” he said, something that has carried over to his helping take care of his community.
In 1990, Bob and his brother Larry were looking for a business that would support both families. They found that the local car dealership that had been in business since 1934 was for sale, and they purchased it.
And since that day, the Siracusano family has been giving back to the community that they love.
Join the family! 
