Beckie Conrad accepted the honor as Auburn’s Citizen of the Year graciously.

AUBURN – To those who know her, Beckie Conrad’s reaction to being named Auburn’s Citizen of the Year was predictable.

No hysterical laughter or shocked expressions. No false modesty or brazen bravado.

When the Auburn businesswoman and volunteer extraordinaire stepped into Lost Valley lodge and saw her name emblazoned on a banner proclaiming her the Citizen of the Year, she simply smiled – graciously.

Then she accepted a kiss from her husband, Audie, and began to receive a steady stream of congratulations and warm hugs from the dozens of people who turned out to honor her Wednesday night.

“Yes, it was surprise,” she told well-wishers. Her husband had been in on the ruse, telling her Dick Trafton was the intended recipient of the annual honor from the Auburn Business Association.

But the night belonged to Beckie. Over and over again, friends and colleagues used the same words to describe Conrad as they addressed the crowd: committed, passionate, intelligent, gracious, efficient, caring.

Mayor Norm Guay spoke of the many hats she’s worn over the years, from tireless advocate for the city’s economic revival to her leadership on several local boards of directors.

“Beckie, you’re a class act,” he said.

Humor, elegance

Richard Willing, director of L/A Arts, presented her with a brightly colored, mosaic flying pig, a testament to her belief that anything can happen if people are dedicated to making it happen. Even bringing a Nordstroms to L-A, which Willing said is an overwhelming desire of Conrad’s.

Carl Straub worked with Conrad when he was dean of faculty at Bates College and she, his assistant. He praised her for bringing “integrity and good cheer” to the office every day, and applauded her “sense of humor, sense of elegance and good taste and sense of fairness.”

Perhaps the most moving commentary came from Mark Adams, assistant city manager. Adams served with Conrad on the Board of Directors at Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice during a time when the board was considering some significant changes in the agency’s role. Conrad had become a supporter of hospice after caring for her mother near the end of her life.

“The board was on the verge of indecision,” said Adams, “when Beckie gave a very impassioned and emotional” account of her personal experience with hospice care.

“It renewed the commitment of our goals, of leadership and of caring for one’s community and one’s neighbor,” said Adams.

When ABA President Ray Dube presented Conrad with the plaque commemorating her honor, the audience stood and applauded. Conrad smiled – again graciously – and beckoned the audience to resume their seats.

“This community is built on the fabric of what we do every day,” she said. “And no one person can do it all.”

She said when she married Audie years ago in the Bates College chapel, the minister told her she was not only committing herself to the man, but to the community as well.

She took it to heart.

“I can’t imagine not giving back to this community,” she said.

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