The granddaughter of new Living Treasure Teralene Foxx speaks of her love and admiration for her grandmother at Sunday’s Living Treasures event at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
The newest Los Alamos Living Treasures from left, John N. Stewart, Teralene Foxx and Gene F. Mortensen. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Community members, friends and family fill the Betty Ehart Senior Center Sunday afternoon for the 2014 Living Treasures of Los Alamos ceremony. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.comBy CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
An inspirational ceremony honored three individuals who for many, many years have shown their dedication to the Los Alamos community. Family, friends and community members paid tribute for John N. Stewart, Teralene Foxx and Gene F. Mortensen during the special event Sunday at the Betty Ehart Senior Center.
“They have been nominated by friends and family who know of their devotion to Los Alamos and want to recognize them publicly,” said Living Treasure of Los Alamos Board Treasurer Rosalie Heller.
Heller explained that the Living Treasures of Los Alamos organization began in 1999 and was modeled after a Santa Fe group. Living Treasures was created to celebrate the enormous role that so many of local senior citizens have played in the history of Los Alamos. Through their voluntary efforts, they have come to serve as models and mentors providing inspiration with their involvement, commitment, perseverance, hope, heart and wisdom. “They are the folk heroes who live among us.”
“Now it’s 15 years later and are 79th, 80th and 81st treasures will be installed today,” she said, adding that their stories are documented at livingtreasureslosalamos.org.
Living Treasures Board Member Dr. Robert Thomsen introduced the newest Treasures and presented them with certificates and flowers as wells as medallions crafted by Dobbins Studio in Santa Fe and funded by an anonymous donor.
Heller told the audience that it takes a lot of dedicated people to maintain Living Treasures and mentioned several including the Living Treasures Board – Dale Arnink, Karen Brandt, Jim Gautier, Pauline Schneider, Tammy Thorne, Sarah Rochester, Kyle Wheeler, Thomsen and Heller.
Marilyn Stevens has calligraphed the invitations and certificates for the Treasures since 1999.
Colleen Olinger interviewed this year’s Treasures and wrote their stories: Read stories here.
“Colleen isn’t here today as she is taking her 90-year-old mother on a sailing trip,” Heller said.
PAC 8 records all of the interviews and ceremonies each year and Jim Gautier photographs each Treasure after which he and his wife mount and frame them for their places on the Los Alamos National Bank wall. Gold Leaf Catering serves the reception, which is a gift from LANB.
“LANB has been our main source of support since the earliest days … paying for the invitations and mailings, the generous reception and contributing the extensive wall space for Jim’s photos,” Heller said. “Truly, LANB is a Living Treasure in its own way.”
Dr. Robert Thomsen presents Teralene Foxx with her Living Treasure award. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Dr. Robert Thomsen presents John Stewart with his Living Treasure award. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Dr. Robert Thomsen presents Gene Mortensen with his Living Treasure award. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Chamber Director Katy Korkos pays tribute to her longtime friend Teralene Foxx. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Chick Keller pays tribute to Teralene Foxx. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
New Living Treasure John Stewart presents flowers to his wife. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Irene Powell, and Pauline Schneider of the Betty Ehart Center recite a poem to honor John Stewart. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
A longtime family friend pays tribute to new Living Treasure Gene Mortensen. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Living Treasures Board Treasurer Rosalie Heller thanks all the dedicated people who make the annual Living Treasures event possible. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Friends and family capture special moments at Sunday’s Living Treasures ceremony. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Fairley Barnes speaks of her friend Teralene Foxx. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Carl Newton shares his appreciation for John Stewart who with his wife, gave Newton a place to live 40 years ago. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Living Treasure Craig Martin congratulates his longtime frend Teralene Foxx Sunday after she receives her Living Treasure award. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos artist Sec Sandoval speaks with Teralene Foxx following the Living Treasure ceremony. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Paul White and Dr. Robert Thomsen hold up a quilt made by Teralene Foxx as Living Treasure Becky Shankland honors her longtime friend. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
A family friend thanks new Living Treasure Gene Mortensen for being a second father to her children. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Paul White of the Sarov Sister City Initiative pays tribute to Teralene Foxx. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com