Ten years ago, Sylvia Lewis earned the accolades of the Greenbelt community when she was named the 2011 Outstanding Citizen. At age 86, Sylvia still maintains a hectic pace which includes donating more than 14 gallons of blood over the course of many years. Sylvia modestly declares that blood is something easily given and greatly needed.
Sylvia, speaking in her distinctive British accent, recounts traveling to the United States in the mid-1950s to work as a mother’s helper for a family in Indianapolis. Sylvia was charged with the care of three young girls, along with cooking, cleaning and laundry for $25 a week. Though the pay was low, she accomplished her dream of visiting many parts of the U.S.
Sylvia loved the friendliness of Americans and decided to stay in the Midwest after her contract with the family ended. With her London School of Economics certification in Social Work and Public Administration, she got a job as an intake worker with Family Services. She joined the Indianapolis Unitarian Church where she met Robert Lewis, a Methodist minister working for Goodwill Industries. At the time, Robert was visiting “oddball” churches, she remarked. They both sang in the choir. They fell in love and married.
A job change for Robert brought them to Hagerstown where their daughter Janet was born in 1960. Robert was invited to become the minister for the River Road Unitarian Church in 1961. Their son, Drew, was born in 1962. In 1968 Robert went back to school to pursue a PhD degree in psychology, and the family then moved to Greenbelt. Sylvia, who had assumed the traditional roles of wife and mother, went to work for the American Red Cross, first as director of youth services, then as executive director of the Prince George’s County chapter. She retired in 1995, and plunged into her next career as a community volunteer.
She became a vocal force in Greenbelt Homes, Inc., serving as treasurer and later board president. She tutored at the Greenbelt Elementary School which she enjoyed, in part because she could keep up with many of the subjects her granddaughter was studying. She initiated and ran Bike for Breast Cancer for two years and acted in a Greenbelt Arts Center play. She was a founding member of the Greenbelt Community Foundation, serving as its board president. She was a docent for the Greenbelt Museum, a member of the Greenbelt Cooperative Alliance, secretary of the Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club and treasurer for Emmett Jordan’s first two campaigns for city council.
Sylvia is quick to point out that she didn’t do all of these jobs at the same time. In 2012 she joined the staff of the Greenbelt News Review and you can still find her on Mondays and Tuesdays at the Ad Desk. She says it is time, though, to train her replacement at the News Review.
Currently, Sylvia spends most of her time caring for Robert who suffers from dementia. She is planning a 90th birthday celebration for him later this month. She also looks forward to traveling to visit her new great-grandchild.
Like Sylvia Lewis, there are many Greenbelt citizens who are performing jobs that benefit our community and are worthy of the title of Outstanding Citizen. Both individuals and groups can still nominate someone by the deadline of Monday, August 2. Submit a letter outlining the accomplishments of your nominee and send it to Robert Zugby, Chair, Outstanding Citizen Committee, 94 Ridge Road, Greenbelt 20770 or email Outstandingcitizengh@gmail.com.
