For anyone who visits the YMCA regularly, Pat Fraker is no stranger. During my visit with her at the Y, people of all ages checked in for various uses of the facilities – the pool, track, exercise rooms, etc. This was in addition to answering frequent phone calls: “Good morning, YMCA, Pat speaking. May I help you?” And during these most recent and trying times, “Which pool please?” It's been so long since I visited the Y, I didn't realize that folks sign up for a specific time, day and lane to swim – during COVID. It’s a system that appears to work as demonstrated by Pat's notes for scheduling.

I couldn't help but recall other highly visible greeters I have known over the years – Alice Vannah, Doris Welch. And directors from years gone by – Len Willett and Mike Harrison. Pleasant welcomes for sure.

But there's more to Pat than meets the eye! She's a Maine native. Pat was born on Swan Island, over by Richmond. She came to Capitol Island in her mother's womb, and can visit Capitol anytime with a variety of friends and family. We met through a wonderful mutual friend, Peg Stewart.

During her married years, Pat and husband Charlie Stewart traveled the world with Charlie's work at Standard Oil of New Jersey. Aruba, Greece, Benghazi, Libya and beyond. At all the stops, Pat taught the children of relocated families stationed abroad. And that's not where her teaching ended.

Now the Pat Fraker classroom has expanded. For over 21 years, Pat has volunteered as a teacher, mentor and now executive director for Criminon, an organization dedicated to criminal rehabilitation and education. Pat now coordinates studies with 126 incarcerated individuals and 28 instructors throughout the Northeast. She receives mail from students, reads correspondence and trains new instructors. In her spare time, Pat enjoys badminton, bowling and bike riding! Just kidding. In her spare time, I think Pat, when she can, visits Capitol Island and sits on a porch or two, admiring the beautiful ocean and breathing the fresh salt air, which keeps her young and in touch with her ancestry.

I am constantly amazed and surprised by the people I have met here in our communities. You just never know. Pat is unassuming and cordial, a good reminder, at the YMCA and elsewhere, of considerate nature. We are lucky to have so many special folks among us.