One of the grants funded by the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation in the fall of 2025 helped establish a clothing closet at Windermere Elementary School to support students in need. This project was made possible through the generosity of Amherst alumni who contribute to our grant program.
From the Windy’s Clothing Closet team:
Here is a peek into our new clothing closet, which moved from Windermere Boulevard Elementary school to a church down the street! Thank you for the totes, shelving, and other materials that are arriving! We could not have done it without the support of Amherst Alumni members and leadership!
of Kenmore, New York entered into rest on December 15, 2025 at age 68. Beloved husband of 38 years to Mary Ellen (Twist) Creighton. Cherished father of Andrew (Colleen), Peter (fiancé Ariana Savich), Maureen, Katharine Hampel (Tyrus). “Papa C.” to Eleanor, Jack, Ava and Quincy Paul. Brother of Mary Creighton Pardo (James) of Atlanta, GA and Dr. Barbara Creighton (Thomas Dale) of Fairbanks, AK. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. Family and friends may call on Friday December 19, 2025 from 4-8pm at DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 3070 Delaware Ave. Kenmore, NY 14217. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 10am at St. Michael’s Church, 651 Washington St., Buffalo, NY 14203. Please assemble at church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made by check to the Special Smiles Foundation. This organization was established by Paul and Mary Ellen Creighton to honor Paul’s legacy of providing preventative dental education and access to care for the underserved and developmentally and intellectually disabled individuals in Western New York. Fond memories and condolences may be shared at www.denglerrobertspernakenmore.com
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved President, CEO and pillar of our community, Dr. Creighton.
Dr. Creighton dedicated his life to serving our community with compassion, generosity, and unwavering commitment.
He was a visionary — creative, forward-thinking, and always looking at what could be. He saw possibilities long before anyone else did and believed in them wholeheartedly. His passion for building, improving, and strengthening everything around him pushed us all to be better and shaped the very foundation of our organization.
As most have experienced, his generosity was unparalleled; his first instinct was always to show up for others, often quietly and without any desire for recognition or expecting anything in return. Serving others wasn’t something he chose to do — it was simply who he was.
Families knew him as someone who truly cared, who listened, and who showed up at any time. His legacy lives on in the many children whose lives were made brighter because of his dedication.
We are profoundly grateful for the difference he made in our community. We will honor his life by continuing the work he cared so deeply about, knowing his impact will be felt through generations of children and their families.
Gary F. Filsinger was born in Buffalo, New York, on March 29, 1936. He graduated from Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. There, he studied Chinese language and English literature, and was part of the English honors program. He later attended the University of Buffalo in their teaching program but left to pursue a career in acting in New York City.
Mr. Filsinger was involved in many off-off Broadway productions as both an actor and director. At the former Cafe Cino, he was involved in the original production of “Dames at Sea” with Bernadette Peters. He was also involved in children’s theater with Kay Rockefeller. Filsinger worked as an actor and served as an artistic director at the Theater at Monmouth in Maine in the late 1960s, and as artistic director of the Undercroft Players (an Actors Equity showcase theater) for 12 years in the early 2000s at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York. He later sang in opera productions at Trinity with composer and director David Clenny.
Mr. Filsinger was also employed in the communications departments at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Reformed Church in America, and the Episcopal Church. He was a member of Actors Equity and Trinity Lutheran Church.
His great uncle William Zacharias was a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic in the 1950s, and his grandfather Martin B. Heisler ran for Congress for the Erie County area in 1930.
Mr. Filsinger is survived by his loving cousins Carol Heisler Lett and family of Williamsville, New York, and Grand Island, and other Heisler cousins in Buffalo and Rochester, and Texas, by Sandra Filsinger Hassinger and family of Florida and Buffalo, and by the family of his deceased cousin Dr. Gordon Kauderer of Williamsville; by his longtime partner and former spouse, David Clenny, of New York City; and by his sister, Cheryl Filsinger Held, and brother-in-law George Held, of Bronxville, New York, and Sag Harbor, New York. His parents, Frederick Harold Filsinger and Erna Heisler Filsinger, predeceased him. Mr. Filsinger’s earliest ancestors in America were Mennonites in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s.
As we approach the close of another wonderful and exciting year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your continued generosity, enthusiasm, and support of the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation, Inc. Our community once again demonstrated what makes Amherst truly special: a commitment to excellence, to tradition, and to investing in the success of future generations.
This year marked our first annual Meat Raffle, and it was a tremendous success. With over 150 participants and the help of our dedicated community partners and sponsors, the event exceeded all expectations and contributed significantly to our fundraising efforts. We are grateful to everyone who helped make this new tradition such a fun and memorable experience—and we are already looking forward to our next Meat Raffle this coming May. Get your Kentucky Derby hats ready!
Thanks to your contributions, we raised $17,452.11 this year to support the ACAF mission and vision. Your support allowed us to fund $23,491.94 in grants during the 2024–2025 school year, directly enriching the educational experiences of Amherst students and educators. With your help, we have now proudly surpassed $213,110.49 in total grants awarded all-time—a remarkable milestone for our foundation and for the district we serve.
This year also marked two important moments for our organization. We were honored to award the first-ever Dimp Wagner Scholarship to a graduating Amherst Senior, carrying forward a legacy of dedication and school spirit. This scholarship will continue to honor Dimp’s memory and help students strive for their dreams after Amherst. In addition, we celebrated the return of the Distinguished Alumni and Faculty Emeritus Ceremony, the first held since COVID. It was a joy to once again gather in recognition of those who have made extraordinary contributions to our schools and community.
None of these achievements would be possible without you. Whether you attended an event, made a donation, volunteered your time, or simply shared your Tiger Pride, you have helped strengthen the Amherst tradition for generations past, present, and future.
On behalf of the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation, Inc., I wish you and your loved ones a joyful, safe, and restful holiday season. Thank you for making this year exceptional—and here’s to an inspiring year ahead.
All the best,
Samantha Sweeney-General Class of 2007 President Amherst Central Alumni Foundation, Inc.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, is Giving Tuesday. Please consider a gift to the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation. Click here for more information.
Please consider a gift to the Amherst Central Alumni Foundation on Giving Tuesday!
The Amherst Central Alumni Foundation, through generous donations from alumni, provides financial support to programs that enhance the student experience throughout the Amherst Central School District. The foundation is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our donors help bridge the gap between basic funding and what Amherst students truly need to excel. Any amount helps.
Since 2003, our grant program has given over $213,000 to the students of the Amherst Central School District,
Tiger Tracks 