Preservation Society Citizen of the Year

Dan Newman was named "Citizen of the Year" for 2023 by the Foster Preservation Society.

Ted Hopkins and Tom Angell were named "Citizens of the Year" for 2016 by the Foster Preservation Society.

Every year the Society tries to select a citizen from Foster who has contributed to preserving the heritage of the community.  This may be through restoration or preservation of structures or sites which reflect the history of the town, or it may be through efforts to record and document some person or event that is important to the stories that when woven together form the tapestry depicting the past of this community we call home.  It is seldom an easy choice because this town has been blessed with many people who through their efforts have made Foster a gem in western Rhode Island.  This year has seen the culmination of the restoration of the historic Quaker Meeting House that is now the Mount Vernon Chapel.  A building that was severely damaged when it was accidentally struck by a vehicle and driven off of its foundation.  There had been a great deal of concern regarding the ability to save the structure, but through the hard work of the parishioners it has been restored. Not only was it returned to its existing state but with love and attention to detail, it was returned to its 18th century appearance. In the process of reconstruction, when the inner walls were stripped, the original window and door locations were found in the original framing and they were then returned to their original position.  A fine example and still a work in progress.

The past year also witnessed the installation of a new World War II Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the historic Eddy Building.  This began as a wish by the few remaining veterans to honor their brothers who left as boys to try to bring order and justice to a world torn by a conflict, the magnitude of which had never been witnessed. Some didn’t return, but of those who did, they were no longer the same farm boys who had left.  The world had changed and they had changed.  A thank you is too little for what they endured and the price they paid. Finally, the few remaining, had the opportunity to see a fitting memorial placed, in a prominent place, in the center of the community from which they had departed 70 years before.  The names, a symbolic gathering of a generation, now belonging to the history of the town.  The work that went into completing this project is worthy of an award.

Janet White was named "Citizen of the Year" for 2015 by the Foster Preservation Society.

When we think of Janet, words that come to mind are "energetic", "goal-oriented" and "achiever".  No matter what task was laid before her, the end result was usually a success.  She is someone who could be counted on to "get the job done".

Janet became a member of the Foster Preservation Society many years ago, serving on the Board of Directors for most of those years. She was always part of, if not Chairperson of, (which usually was the case), the Fundraising Committee and the Program Committee.  Her suggestions for a fundraising event would most likely turn in to a successful venture. Some of these events were the: Barn Tours, Garden Tours, Plant Sales, Bus Trips, Town House Tiles, Cabot Cheese Wheels sold at Old Home Days (how could we have known that this would become so popular!) and The Jerimoth Hill T-shirts (travelers far and wide have purchased these T-shirts!).

Ed Balfour was named "Citizen of the Year" for 2014 by the Foster Preservation Society.

Since his youth, Ed has been interested in history. Born in Cranston, raised in Warwick, Ed followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and joined the Varnum Continentals, a unit of the Rhode Island Militia, achieving the rank of Major. The Varnum Continentals are an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of James Mitchell Varnum, who served under General George Washington, and later became a Major General in command of the entire RI Militia.

After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Ed made a career in State Government, working for the Department of Business Regulation. He and his wife, Suzanne (Poole), moved to Foster 24 years ago. Researching the history of their former home, the Major John Greene house, resulted in information showing that the many families who had lived in the house before them were either related to he or Suzanne. The television show, "If Walls Could Talk", actually contacted Ed, made the trip to Rhode Island, filmed the house and featured it on HGTV.

Interested in genealogy, Ed joined the Rhode Island Genealogical Society. One of his greatest achievements was researching his family connection to General George Washington’s army, which allowed him to become a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Genealogical research has brought Ed as far away as England, Scotland and Wales, and closer to home, all over New England.

Heidi Colwell was named "Citizen of the Year" for 2013 by the Foster Preservation Society.  Born to Swiss parents Robert & Anna Schlaepfer, Heidi was the first generation of her family to be born in the U.S. and raised in Foster.  She attended the Hopkins Mills one-room schoolhouse and completed her high school years attending school in the big city.  Her children, Gordie and Bea, were exposed at an early age to their mother’s commitment to her community and volunteerism.  She was assigned to “man” the Red Phone, which was associated with the Ambulance Corp. and the Fire Departments.  She was instrumental in the formation of the South Foster Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and is still a vibrant member.  For many years she has been involved with the Old Home Days Committee (originally the Foster Fair), actively keeping an age-old tradition alive in the community.

George Newman was named "Citizen of the Year" for 2012 by the Foster Preservation Society.  George, known to many as “Huffy”, a nickname given to him by his father, is this year’s recipient of the Foster Preservation Society’s Citizens Award.  His dedication to the preservation of Foster should not go unrecognized.  Along with his wife Kay (who has since passed away), George raised three children: Chuck, Danny & Tracey.  At a very early age he became a volunteer firefighter and is now the longest running member of the South Foster Fire Department.

He served in WWII in the Army Air Corps and was wounded during the war.  Back home, he established a career in Forestry (DEM), starting as a Ranger and achieving the position of Head of Fire Control for the entire State of RI.  George is an active member of the American Legion.  Known as the Cookie Man, George delivers his baked goods to Nancy Ann Nursing Home as well as other locations.  He is an avid woodworker.  George has a passion for anything to do with the Civil War.  George has been involved with the Old Home Days Committee for many years and can be seen every year volunteering at Old Home Days along with his fellow firefighters at the gate or any other job that is required of him.  He is an active member of the Foster Preservation Society, serving on the Archiving Committee, also known as the Wednesday Group, where he is known for saying “you’ve just got to read this!”  He is on the Cemetery Committee, or the Thursday Group, going over hill and dale in search of graves that have been long lost to time.  Besides the group members, he is sometimes accompanied by his son, Danny, on these treks.

Devoting a lifetime to the preservation of our Country and Homeland, and much closer, devoting a lifetime to the preservation our community, we are pleased to honor this year’s recipient, George Newman, with the Foster Preservation Society’s Citizens Award.

Bruce Campbell was named "Citizen of the Year" for 2011 by the Foster Preservation Society.  He is pictured here receiving the award from FPS President, Maggie Fennessey on Friday July 29, 2011 at Old Home Days.  Bruce has been a resident of Foster since 1968.  A Brown graduate and a gourmet cook who raises his own vegetables, he has established a scholarship at the University of Rhode Island.  He belongs to the Narragansett Bay Commission as well as the Appalachian Hiking Club and has been a member of the both the Town Council and the Planning Board.  In 1984 he bought a farm on Plain Woods Road and for the past three Barn Tours he has graciously allowed the  Society to include his glorious barn in our tours.

Walter Grass was named the "Citizen of the Year" for 2010 by the Foster Preservation Society.  He is pictured here receiving the award from FPS President, Maggie Fennessey, at Old Home Days.  Walter is the author of the book This Finnish Episode: Recalling the Finns in Foster, Rhode Island and its Surrounding Areas available from the Preservation Society.  Click here to visit our Bookshop.

Doug Thoman was named the "Citizen of the Year" for 2009 by the Foster Preservation Society for his many years of tireless work as caretaker of Spears Cemetery on North Road.  He is pictured here receiving the award from FPS President, Maggie Fennessey, at the Friday night festivities of Old Home Days.