Monday, April 22, friends of recently retired Community Center President Shawn Lewin will gather to recognize and thank him after serving the organization for almost a decade. The public is invited to the gathering, which will run from 2 to 4 pm.

A native of Presque Isle, Lewin lived in Vermont, New York and New Jersey after college in Bangor and came to Old Town in 1997 to care for his mother, who was ailing. In 2011, he and fiancée Sandy Leonard moved to Southport from Bangor.

After the effort to save St. Andrews Hospital in 2012, Boothbay Region Health and Wellness Foundation was created. The foundation looked for ways to help the community, and formed a committee of five members in 2015 to explore options. The committee included Lewin, Jane Good, Margaret Perritt, Ted Schmidt and Donna Morey.

In the spring of 2015, Lewin suggested a tour of Bangor Senior Center, which he knew from living in that area. Accompanied by Good and Perritt, the team quickly realized residents of the Boothbay peninsula would benefit from a similar facility. They knew isolation can be deadly for people who are homebound, so they decided to create a true community center where people could find companionship and connect with others.

"Shawn's inspiration for that field trip was the spark that started the Community Center," incoming President Jerry Homer explained.

Within a few months and with the generosity and hard work of many participants, by Aug. 29, 2015, the Community Center opened and the vision became a reality: a center where community members could gather.

Lewin served as president of the Center's board of directors until his recent retirement. Under his tenure and with the hard work and creative contributions of its volunteers and fellow founders, the Center now serves more than 4,000 residents of our peninsula each year, providing classes, entertainment and the opportunity to serve others. 

"Shawn has guided the organization and provided encouragement and leadership," Homer said.

Under his presidency, Lewin has expanded the organization’s focus. In addition to events and daily activities at the Center, programs have been added that extend outward into the community.

These include the People Helping People program which provides rides to medical and other appointments; free durable medical equipment and reflective blue emergency signs with the homeowner’s house number; and coats for asylum seekers.

Incoming president Jerry Homer praised Lewin's commitment. "Shawn never does anything half-hearted. He is 'all in, all the time',” Homer said. "And he has been there in support of The Community Center since the beginning."

Lewin's desire to help others was the reason for his retirement from the Center. Last November, he started helping Neighbors in Need, a group that assists asylum seekers as they make a new home in Maine.  His efforts with that group demanded his time. "I couldn't focus on things I needed to do as President of the Board,” he explained.

Asked about Lewin's impact on the Community Center, his colleagues at the Center applauded his activities in the community and generously volunteering his time to help others.

"He has a very generous and giving heart and wants to help anyone who is in need. His work with People Helping People and Durable Medical Goods is a testament to that in itself, but he also volunteers his time and energies in so many other places, church, community, Food Pantry, People Seeking Asylum and starting over," board member Lucy Cressey said.

Fellow board member Mary Connelly praised Lewin's ability to turn ideas into reality.

Pandy Dickinson echoed the sentiment. "(It's) always about volunteering. Not just volunteering to contribute to a place, but volunteering to help people. It was always about people and how he could help brighten their day. Thanks to Shawn, I understand there is more to volunteering then just volunteering."

Lewin credit for the Center's success to others. “The volunteers are the lifeblood of the Center. They show up and keep things going day to day.”

His "gratitude list" is extensive. It includes Ben Borkowski who assists him as a driver for People Helping People and medical equipment and who Lewin said is a "huge friend."

"The landlords, past and present have been extremely supportive of our Community Center, and I would be remiss to not acknowledge how much I have appreciated working with them." Lewin said. "Also, the McEvoy Foundation (has) been a major benefactor throughout my time at the Center, in addition to the three towns, the Rotary Club, and our many faithful friends who have generously donated to the foundation."

Lewin fondly mentioned other founders of the Center: Jane Good, Ted Schmidt and Margaret Perritt and said he hopes it will continue to make a difference for area seniors, continuing to be a "friendly, welcoming place."