If you’ve been one of the countless people who have passed through the doors of the Boothbay Region YMCA over the past 24 years and have been greeted by the warm smile of Pat Fraker, consider yourself lucky. Even luckier are those who have had the privilege of working alongside her.

“I first met Pat when I interviewed for the membership director position back in 2017,” shared Lisa McIntosh, director of operations. “I had no idea at the time just how much she would come to mean to me. Pat has been a constant, welcoming presence at the front desk for almost 25 years. She treats everyone who walks through our doors with kindness and care, and she truly believes in the work we do at the Y. She’s not just a coworker — she’s part of what makes this place feel like home.” 

Pat’s warmth is matched by her intelligence and a lifelong commitment to helping others. Through years of travel abroad, volunteerism, and family life, she has left an indelible mark on people she’s encountered wherever she’s lived. “I don’t think of my life as remarkable,” Pat reflected, “but in talking about the past, I do realize that I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of different experiences.” 

Those experiences began in Maine, where Pat was born on Swan Island, before her family moved to Jacksonville, Florida. After having skippered Liberty ships during World War II, her father became a pilot on the St. Johns River. Each summer, the family returned to Maine and their beloved compound on Capitol Island. Pat knew she wanted to go to college in Maine and graduated from the University of Maine, Orono, in 1957 with a degree that permitted her to teach high school English and elementary education. She had a reputation for leadership and served as president of her freshman dorm, her sorority, and was active in many other campus organizations. 

After graduation, she married fellow Capitol Islander Charlie Stewart. Together they raised two children, just 17 months apart, while traveling the world for Charlie’s work as an assistant controller and later controller of several companies owned by Standard Oil of New Jersey. The family lived in Libya, Aruba, Greece, New Jersey, and New York, where Pat continued to teach — a rare pursuit for a woman with children at that time. “It wasn’t very popular with some,” she admitted with a smile, “but Charlie was supportive, and the money was my own.” 

Pat used that money for adventure and traveled parts of the world with her children during school breaks. Her one rule? “Always book a hotel with a pool so the children could relax after a day touring museums and historic sites.” Her stories are legendary: traveling on a Chinese tanker from Aruba to Jacksonville with her 7-year-old son, riding camels in the Egyptian desert with her mother, and visiting Moscow solo, just to see the sights.

Wherever she went, Pat taught. She worked with expatriate children, filled in for teachers at a moment’s notice, taught classes in subjects she had never studied herself (including shorthand), and always managed to create a sense of home, no matter where the next assignment led. After 20 years abroad, Pat and Charlie went their separate ways. Soon after, she met the love of her life, Robert Fraker, and together they built a rich, joyful life in Boothbay, blending five children from their previous marriages and enjoying their many beloved dogs.

Pat’s leadership continued to shine long after her teaching years. In 2000, she established the Maine chapter of Criminon, a nonprofit that provides life skills courses to inmates through correspondence and on-site programs (criminonmaine.org). She says, “This secular program is based on the writings of humanitarian and author L. Ron Hubbard, and the thrust of the program is rehabilitation to help inmates improve their lives when they are released back into society.” Currently, Pat is assisted by 17 instructors.  As she transitions from executive director to assistant director to ensure a smooth handoff, she reflects on the program’s impact with pride.

“I have a number of students who have been released,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to know that they are doing well.” Since graduating from UMO, Pat has remained involved in the University and received the Block “M” Award in 2003, an alumni honor that recognizes a graduating student for their service to their class and the University. As secretary of the class of 1957, she writes two articles a year for the UMO Alumni Magazine. 

And then, of course, there’s her second family at the Boothbay Y. Since joining the front-desk team in 2001, Pat has been a daily source of warmth and welcome. Recently the Y celebrated her 90th birthday with balloons, flowers from the after-school children, and cards signed by fellow staff members. The Y’s Facebook post that honored her became the most “liked” of the year, filled with comments like this one from Helen Meserve: “Sending best wishes and many thanks for all you have done and continue to do for the Y. You are the tops! Happy Birthday to someone who will remain forever young!” 

During a recent visit to Pat’s sunny, plant-filled home, she shared stories about her life and laughed about one of the Y’s long-standing urban legends: that she once worked for the CIA because of her global travels and her “cover” as a teacher. Over a delicious lunch, she spoke about her love of cooking, her family, and her home, which is filled with photos, flowers, and many joyful memories. When Pat proudly showed her home office, the heart of her Criminon work, she smiled as she said, “This is where I live… besides the Y!” 

As Lura Kerrigan wrote on Facebook, “Pat is amazing; such a special woman, at the Y and in the community. Just thankful for all she has done.”

Indeed, Pat’s quick mind, radiant health, boundless energy, joyful spirit, and lifelong passion for helping others continue to inspire everyone around her. She lives what she believes — that kindness shared freely can make the world a better place. 

May we all be a little more like Pat.