Miriam Plitt inducted into Pawtucket Hall of Fame

Person of the Year Senator Donna Nesselbush, left, and two Hall of Fame inductees, Joan Crawley and Miriam R. PlittOn Oct. 28, 2014, Miriam R. Plitt, along with three other women, became a member of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame. The committee recognized her for her volunteering efforts in improving the lives of the town’s residents. Plitt is proud and thrilled to receive the award for which she was nominated by Robert Metivier, former mayor of Pawtucket and past colleague (they worked together in the financial industry). When Metivier had suggested that he’d like to present Plitt’s candidacy to the panel, her reaction was, “You gotta be kidding, Bob! I don’t do these things for awards. I enjoy them.” He argued that she really deserved the recognition and pursued the matter for two years, until it came to fruition.

The recognition dinner was a very emotional event for Plitt. It wasn’t until she walked into a room of more than 200 people and saw all the city and state officials, her colleagues, neighbors and friends that she understood the importance of the evening. “It hit me. I was overwhelmed,” she says. The fact that her two sons arrived from Massachusetts and California to be present at the ceremony made it even more special. Listening to speakers recite her accomplishments was exhilarating, “I loved it. I really did!” she gushes. 

If you take a look at the boards on which Plitt serves, as well as at her extensive volunteer work, you’ll understand why Metivier was adamant she be inducted. A marketer prior to retirement, she now spends her time as executive director of the Arts Council of Pawtucket. Also, at Pawtucket History Research Center, she preserves Elizabeth Johnson’s collection of documents that reveal the nature of the town’s past. Some other causes Plitt dedicated her time to include the Rhode Island Ethics Commision, Rhode Island League of Voters and the American Heart Association, which honored her as volunteer of the year, bestowing on her the Mission of Heart Award. Plitt served as commissioner for the Pawtucket Riverfront Commission and led the creation of Pawtucket’s Advisory Commission of Arts & Culture as well.

Despite being recognized for her work, Plitt doesn’t feel that she has done anything extraordinary. During a phone interview, one can almost hear her shrug as she explains that, to her, acts of kindness are a given. “It’s part of my upbringing,” she says. Growing up, she watched her family members perform mitzvot, “My family were quiet givers.” After she married Arthur Plitt, she watched her mother-in-law reach out to those who needed help on a regular basis. Later, she took it upon herself to assume her elders’ responsibility to continue doing good deeds. Plitt says, because of that, giving is ingrained in her. “It’s part of our heritage to give back and make the world a better place.”

While she loves people and enjoys volunteering, she also gets something from those whom she helps. “It’s a form of gratification; it makes me happy.” Plitt would like to encourage you to volunteer. Doing so not only brings happiness to the recipients, but also evokes an intrinsic feeling in the helper, reminding him that he’s done something nice for someone else and causing him to feel good.

Plitt shared the spotlight with three other award recipients – 2014 was the year of an all-women induction. Joan Crawley, retired from her position as director of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, was honored for her advocacy for Pawtucket’s aged and disabled. A nurse for more than 17 years, she developed human and social service programs at the center. Crawley also played a crucial role in the center’s accreditation through the National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers, as well as in developing Pawtucket’s Check telephone reassurance program and the Home Alone program. In addition, she has served on numerous local and statewide nonprofits.

The late Kathleen A. Magill was recognized for her pioneering work for women in Pawtucket politics. In 1979, she became the first woman to serve on the Pawtucket City Council, a position she held for eight years. At the end of her term, she continued challenging the status quo by becoming the first woman to run for mayor. Magill was not only a founder and one of the longest continuing members of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, but also a former grand marshal.

Elizabeth Higginson Weeden was the historical inductee. Using the financial resources inherited from the Draper family, her ancestors, Weeden’s estate funded and established the Elizabeth Higginson Weeden Home for the Indigent and Infirmed Female. She was recognized for providing care for poverty-stricken women. 

Senator Donna Nesselbush was honored as the first ever Pawtucket Person of the Year, a newly created category. The committee recognized her for being a civil rights advocate by championing the Senate Marriage Equality bill, which was passed into law.