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Anne Comeau selected as 2015 Howard S. Holmes Humanitarian of the Year

Courtesy photo. Anne Comeau (in center) was recently chosen as the Howard S. Holmes Humanitarian of the Year. She receives her award from Faith in Action President Julie Frost, director Nancy Paul, friend Jane Diesing, and FIA Board Member Cathy Crocker.
Courtesy photo. Anne Comeau (in center) was recently chosen as the Howard S. Holmes Humanitarian of the Year. She receives her award from Faith in Action President Julie Frost, director Nancy Paul, friend Jane Diesing, and FIA Board Member Cathy Crocker.

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Nancy Paul for the information in this story.)

Faith in Action recently announced that Anne Comeau is the recipient of the 2015 Howard S. Holmes Humanitarian of the Year Award.

The award is given annually to recognize an outstanding community member who exemplifies the spirit of the organization, of service without fanfare for the common good.  Comeau and her years of service will be celebrated at the annual Fundraiser Event on April, 25 at Chelsea Community Hospital.

When Anne Comeau, her husband Ed, and their four daughters moved to Chelsea in 1978, she quickly became involved in the development of educational programs that would benefit the community.  In 1981, she was elected to the School Board, serving for 12 years, five as president.  During her tenure, she pushed board members to educate themselves about the school system, so that their decisions would meet the needs of the students without losing sight of remaining financially stable.

In 1987, concurrent with her School Board work, she joined the Board of Trustees for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD). During her 18 years on this board, she served two terms as president and championed the effort to bring a fiber network to the county.  Recognizing the importance of early childhood education, Anne was involved in programs such as Success by Six, First Steps Washtenaw, and Washtenaw Great Start.

Anne’s volunteer efforts to better the community extend far beyond educational settings.  She was on the FIA Board for 10 years, the Chelsea United Way Board for six years, on the Chelsea Education Foundation Board, and is a major contributor to the Chelsea Senior Center.  Via these organizations, she has bettered our community in countless ways, ranging from medical clinics, to transportation resources, to better ways to accommodate seniors aging at home.

Friends and colleagues describe Anne with phrases such as “quiet grace”, “strong conviction”, “calm and level headed”, and “the moral compass.”.  The board of Faith in Action considers her the epitome of “faith in action”.  She believes in people, from the youngest to the oldest, from the fortunate to the unfortunate.  Everyone needs help at some point, everyone can offer help at some point, and the two situations can change in the blink of an eye.  Anne has volunteered for over 35 years to make this a better community, and indeed a better world, for all of us.

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