PERU — Warren “Skip” MacFawn, who died last month, was honored posthumously with the Peru Spirit of America Foundation Tribute for commendable community service on Aug. 17.

His wife, Sharlene, accepted the plaque and resolution from the Select Board before its meeting at the Town Office. Seven members of the MacFawn family attended.

Asked about Warren’s community service, she said that from the time they were first married and lived in Rumford, Warren volunteered in his community. That continued when they moved to Peru.

“He’s always volunteered. He’s always been very, very active. He was never home,” she joked. “When they said he couldn’t have done it without me, somebody had to stay home. Somebody had to mop.”

Board Chair Raquel Welch-Day read from a municipal resolution, which said that Warren MacFawn’s name has appeared in nearly every Peru Town Report for almost half a century, noting his service on the school board, the finance committee, the planning board and the appeal’s board.

She said his community service in Peru began in 1977 with his appointments to the shoreland zoning board of appeals and the finance committee, as noted in the Peru Town Report of that year.

Welch-Day said MacFawn “had a strong love for his town. He was always ready to help, to share, and to work with his fellow board and committee members, upholding humility and kindness. He reflected the model of volunteerism inherent of the Spirit of America.”

His largest beneficiary, fueled by his love of skiing, was Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford. Over more than 50 years, Warren contributed countless hours to the mountain — as a ski patroller, as patrol director, and as a member of the board of directors. His love of skiing kept him on the slopes well into his 85th year. His style was unmistakable and his speed nearly unmatched.

The Spirit of America Award — officially the Spirit of America Foundation Tribute — is an annual community service honor. Established in Augusta in 1990, local municipalities present it to individuals, organizations and public projects to recognize outstanding volunteer work, civic leadership, and selfless community contributions.

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