Strafford’s Hazel Lewis
Is Citizen of the Year
By John Frietag

It appears that you cannot spend 65 years in a town helping and being nice to everyone and not have people notice.

At least that is the case for Hazel Lewis, who was honored as the Strafford Lions Club "citizen of the year" at a May 16 dinner at Barrett Hall attended by more than 100 friends and family.

Hazel grew up in Corinth and, after taking teaching courses in Lyndon, moved to Strafford in 1942, following her marriage to Thetford Academy classmate Delwin Lewis.

In Strafford, they ran a dairy farm and raised two boys, George and Gregg.

Hazel quickly became and stayed a community leader. Her many activities included the PTA, Ladies Benevolent Circle, and United Church Women.

Last week’s celebration included numerous anecdotes and tributes shared by those in attendance. Again and again, Hazel's warmth and friendliness were mentioned.

Gabe Freitag talked about how, as a 5-year-old without grandparents who lived in Vermont, he asked Hazel, then helping out as a kindergarten aide if she would be his grandma too.

Mailman Bob Nutting said that if you want to know where and what people who have left town are doing, just ask Hazel. She sends cards and stays in touch with who have passed through the town and our lives.

Daughter-in-law Brenda Lewis read a poem she wrote, touching on Hazel's ability to keep going and enjoying life, including a recent reign as Strafford’s Mardi Gras Queen.

The poem ended on a humorous note, "It's 1 a.m. and do you know where your mother-in-law is?"

There were quite a few laughs among the tributes. Bob Nutting had people chuckling over the gifts Hazel had given him over the years.

Matchmaker

An email from former United Church of Strafford minister Dana Douglas, also brought a few laughs. He wrote, in part:

"There are many things to admire and appreciate about Hazel Lewis, but the thing Anne and I are most grateful for is her gift at matchmaking.

"Back in 1983, during my interview with the search committee of the church, Hazel asked if I was a bit nervous about coming to a small town in rural Vermont as a single man. Of course I was, but I didn't think I should admit that to a search committee so I said, ‘No, that doesn’t bother me.’

"Hazel didn’t let my little lie deter her. She said, ‘Well, in case you are just a little nervous about that, I think you should know that there is a single woman in town!’

"The fact that there was apparently only one single woman in town did make me nervous, but I came to the church nonetheless!

"Hazel was working at the time as the aide in Anne’s classroom at the Newton School. She now got busy working on Anne, telling her how the church had called a new minister and that it was someone with whom Anne had a lot in common, and that Anne should make the acquaintance of this new minister.

"The groundwork was done; the scene was set." Douglas wrote.

"Sure enough, soon after I moved into town, Anne stopped by the parsonage with a loaf of zucchini bread; and the rest is history!

"So, from a happy couple in Maine, and two grateful children who wouldn’t exist otherwise —thank you, Hazel!"

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