RUMFORD — Richard “Dick” Lovejoy was unanimously selected as Citizen of the Year on Thursday evening by the Board of Selectmen.
He was chosen from “a field of four really good candidates,” Chairman Brad Adley said.
“Wow. I’m overwhelmed,” Lovejoy said when reached at home following the meeting.
Lovejoy is known for his community involvement.
“Sometimes I’m in too many places, I think,” he said. “I’m involved in too many things, but I find it difficult to say no. I’m involved with a lot of good organizations.
“I’m just interested in trying to help organizations,” he said. “If I can help . . . I enjoy doing it. The town has a lot of other good volunteers, too.”
His most enjoyable volunteer work, he said, is in the classroom.
“I actually volunteer in the first-grade class at Rumford Elementary School with a teacher named Lynn Frost,” Lovejoy said.
He’s volunteered at the school for more than 20 years.
“I enjoy working with the kids,” he said. “I enjoy seeing them learn. I can see when they’re on the high honors in eighth grade, are seniors in high school and things like that. Whether I made any difference in their lives or not, I don’t know — but maybe I have.”
He acknowledged those who were previously chosen as Citizens of the Year.
“Harry Burns was last year, and was it the Stickneys (Bob and Louise) the year before? I’m in very good company.”
The Stickneys, who are neighbors of Lovejoy and his wife, Jolene, nominated him for the honor.
The nomination listed the capacities and organizations in which Lovejoy has served:
* Member of the River Valley Growth Council;
* President of the Board of Directors at the River Valley Technology Center;
* Volunteer with the Maine Adaptive Ski Program at Sunday River and assisting with fundraising.
* President of the Chisholm Ski Club at Black Mountain and volunteer at many ski races.
* Longtime member of the Rumford Hospital board of directors, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rumford Community Home, and he has also served on the Board of Directors of the Central Maine Health Care board.
* Active member of the River Valley Rotary Club.
* Member of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.
* Member of the Board of Directors for Hope Association.
* Active member of the Rumford Performing Arts Committee, the Envision Rumford! committee and Rumford’s Downtown Development Committee.
* Member of the Rumford Finance Committee and former member of Rumford’s Board of Appeals Committee.
And as neighbors, Bob and Louise Stickney noted one of his good qualities.
“For many years now, Dick has been bringing us grass clippings to enrich our vegetable garden. He has a huge expanse of lawn which he mows with his riding mower. Dick takes the time and effort to put the clippings into large garbage bags and then delivers them right to our garden.”
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