Greg Dohler/The Gazette Mary Reese, the 2011 Berwyn Heights Citizen of the Year, was recognized April 30 for her efforts with the town’s recreation council and Berwyn Heights Elementary School.

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Greg Dohler/The Gazette Mary Reese, the 2011 Berwyn Heights Citizen of the Year, was recognized April 30 for her efforts with the town’s recreation council and Berwyn Heights Elementary School.
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Greg Dohler/The Gazette Mary Reese, the 2011 Berwyn Heights Citizen of the Year, was recognized April 30 for her efforts with the town’s recreation council and Berwyn Heights Elementary School.

Greg Dohler/The Gazette Mary Reese, the 2011 Berwyn Heights Citizen of the Year, was recognized April 30 for her efforts with the town’s recreation council and Berwyn Heights Elementary School.

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Mary Reese may not have had to get her hands dirty while she worked for the U.S. government, but as a volunteer working with Berwyn Heights Elementary School students, she’s worked on a variety of art projects including one partially made from elephant waste.

Reese, 66, a member of the Berwyn Heights senior center, serves on the town’s recreation council and volunteers in art classes at Berwyn Heights Elementary School, was named the 2011 Berwyn Heights Citizen of the Year.

Reese, who received a plaque April 30, said the title means her volunteering in the town has made a difference.

“It meant that people had really appreciated the efforts I try to make for the children or do things for the town,” said Reese, who has lived in Berwyn Heights for about four years. “It gives me a feeling that I should continue on. Don’t stop anything, just continue on.”

Reese, a retired executive secretary with international affairs for the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, was the recess monitor at Berwyn Heights Elementary until budget cuts eliminated that position this school year so she opted to volunteer in art classes.

“My goal is to always encourage the children,” Reese said. ”I just wanted them to know they were capable of doing anything.”

Reese worked with students on an art project called Mr. Ellie Pooh. Mr. Ellie Pooh LLC is a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based company that makes gifts and paper partially from elephant poop.

The town’s citizen of the year is selected annually by the Berwyn Heights Town Council, said Mayor Cheye Calvo. The award has been given for at least 20 years.

Berwyn Heights Elementary principal Karen Singer said Reese brings a love of art to the students.

“She is energetic, enthusiastic and she has a love of art that she shares with all children,” Singer said. “She doesn’t look for any recognition and she puts in a lot of time and effort because she wants the kids to have fun.”

The person selected typically demonstrates “exceptional dedication to the town,” “extraordinary initiative in a given effort” and may contribute “in multiple areas or cross-pollinate across groups, clubs or committees,” Calvo said.

Calvo said there is no specific criteria used to select the citizen of the year and recipients do not have to live in the town, but must work in town or serve the town in some way.

Reese is “very deserving” of the award for her dedication to the town, Calvo said.

“The Town Council and I are pleased to recognize Mary for her creative ideas and hard work making Berwyn Heights a wonderful place to live and raise a family,” Calvo said.

eskalski@gazette.net