Politics & Government
Sylvia Lewis is Greenbelt Citizen of the Year for 2011
At the opening ceremony of the Greenbelt Labor Day festival, Sylvia Lewis learns she is this year's Citizen of the Year.
Maybe it was when Robert Zugby, chair of the Greenbelt Outstanding Citizen Selection Committee, gave clues like "president of a homeowners association... historic preservation... diversity movement... ... and the performing arts," that Sylvia Lewis could have begun to suspect that he was talking about her.
But Sylvia was clearly shocked and the shock only grew as she walked to the stage and saw her daughter, Janet, who had just arrived after a long drive from upstate New York. Sylvia had been tricked into dressing for the occasion by her husband, Robert, who had suggested going to Chef's Secret for dinner before attending the opening ceremony of the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival on Friday evening, Sept. 2.
At a reception after the award ceremony for Sylvia and former Citizens of the Year, Mayor "J" Davis said she had watched Sylvia to see the moment of realization occur.
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Robert Lewis kept a poker face during the lead-up to Zugby's announcement that Sylvia had been chosen as Citizen of the Year for 2011.
Zugby gave more specifics of Sylvia's accomplishments to Patch, citing her being a founding member of the . Sylvia added that she has served "13 years of elected office" at . (GHI), including serving on the GHI audit committee and serving as treasurer and president of GHI.
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But Lewis said with great enthusiasm that Zugby didn't mention the accomplishment she was "very proud of—I have donated 12 gallons of blood!"
Lewis received proclamations from the Maryland General Assembly, Prince George's County, and the City of Greenbelt, presented by Maryland State Senator Paul Pinsky (D-Dist. 22), County councilmember Ingrid Turner, and Mayor "J" Davis, respectively. Pinsky made a point to attend,
Sylvia and Robert, both ministers, have lived in the same GHI townhouse, on Gardenway, since 1968, raising two children there. At the reception, Sylvia cut the first piece of cake, in front of friends, fellow activists, city councilmembers, and seven former Citizens of the Year: Virginia Beauchamp, James Giese, Konrad Herling, Sandy Lange, Dave Lange, Barbara Likowski, and Mary Lou Williams.