ALF Presents Raymond “Skip” Empey with a Keeper of the Light Award
The American
Lighthouse Foundation’s 15th Anniversary Gala & Awards
Dinner, held at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, on November
7, 2009, was not only a time to celebrate the many accomplishments of
the organization over the years, but also a wonderful opportunity to
honor a number of individuals who help
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
(L to
R) Skip Empey, ALF President Dot Black
& ALF 1st Vice-President Jeremy
D'Entremont
‘keep the lights
shining.’
In addition to
recognizing ALF’s outstanding volunteers for 2009, the organization also
honored Raymond ‘Skip’ Empey by presenting him with the prestigious ‘Keeper
of the Light’ award.
Jeremy
D’Entremont, 1st vice-president for the American Lighthouse
Foundation, shared with those in attendance at the gala dinner, just why
Skip is so deserving of this honor.
“Raymond Empey,
better known as Skip, lives in Wareham, Massachusetts, and he now spends
winters in Naples, Florida. He's been visiting and photographing lighthouses
for over forty years. In fact, he and his wife, Martha, were engaged and
married at Ned's Point Lighthouse in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.”
“Skip has been
working in lighthouse preservation and education for more than 25 years, and
over the years he's amassed an amazing collection of
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Skip Empey accepts his ALF
2009 Keeper of the Light Award
lighthouse
research and memorabilia. He's now a retired grandfather with 13
grandchildren, but he remains an active volunteer for the Friends of the
Boston Harbor Islands and the Boston Harbor Islands National Park, and
he's made many people happy with his wonderful tours at Boston Light,
America's oldest light station.”
“He also narrates
harbor and lighthouse cruises for Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands and
Boston Harbor Cruises. Over the years, he's given many lectures on
lighthouses for various organizations. He's also written many articles on
lighthouses, and for some years he was an active volunteer for Plymouth
Lighthouse in Massachusetts. Skip also is a U.S. Navy veteran and he spent
time serving aboard destroyers.”
“The following
quote was taken from Skip's Facebook page. When he wrote it, I'm sure he
didn't imagine it would be read aloud at a dinner like this, but it fits
perfectly with our theme of volunteerism for lighthouses.”
“Here's what Skip
wrote about his experience as a tour guide at Boston Light:”
‘There is
nothing nicer than to see a smile on a visitor's face after you answer a
question or pass on some information. Children are my favorite visitors
because I see a future preservationist or volunteer. It is so important to
let them see how much we enjoy and share what we are doing as volunteers.’
“For his
dedication to public education and for sharing his passion for lighthouse
history with countless people, we honor Skip Empey with tonight's ‘Keeper of
the Light’ award.”
