LIMESTONE, Maine — When Larry and Patricia Zenzius of Caswell found out they had earned 2021 Limestone Citizen of the Year honors, they were in disbelief.
“We were totally surprised, but it was a good surprise,” said Larry Zenzius.
After being nominated through a secret ballot process, Larry and Patricia officially received their award on Monday, Nov. 22, during the Limestone Chamber of Commerce and Development Foundation’s annual dinner.
Chamber board member Lisa Cantafio highlighted the couple’s involvement in numerous organizations, clubs and activities, including the Limestone Rotary Club, Fourth of July parade, senior citizen appreciation dinners and the Christmas basket project. Larry serves as president of the Borderline ATV Club.
As members of the Rotary Club for 26 years, Larry and Patricia were instrumental in creating Limestone Rotary Park, noted Cantafio. Every year they help fundraise, plan for and host the Rotary’s annual golf tournament, for which the proceeds benefit a community project in Limestone or Caswell.
The Rotary’s Purple Pinkie Project, which raises funds to help eradicate polio worldwide, is an especially poignant project for Patricia.
“She remembers herself, as a little girl, standing in line to get the [polio] vaccine,” Cantafio said. “She gladly volunteers her time to bring awareness to polio and to the reduction of this infectious disease.”
After COVID hit in 2020, Patricia was inspired to put together trick-or-treat baskets containing candy, school supplies and personal hygiene items to give to over 182 students attending Limestone Community School and Dawn F. Barnes Elementary School in Caswell. She continued the project this year.
“Everybody needs to do what they can to help others, and that’s what we try to do,” she said.
Larry and Patricia met in 1962 when Larry, a native of New York, arrived in Limestone to begin serving as a woodworking and carpentry supervisor at Loring Air Force Base, where she also worked. The couple married in 1963 and raised their four daughters in Caswell. They now have eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
After Loring closed, Larry worked for Loring Job Corps until retiring in 1996, while Patricia worked for the Loring Development Foundation until her retirement in 2008.
Both plan to continue serving their community as volunteers for years to come.
“Everybody should do something to give back,” Larry Zenzius said. “If we don’t help each other, it’s only going to be more difficult for everybody.”
Limestone Chamber Director Michelle Albert, who grew up in Caswell, said the Zenziuses have been inspiring to others who wish to make a difference.
“Larry and Pat are deserving of this award for all the time they have volunteered to help their communities in Caswell and Limestone,” Albert said.
