Newport This Week by Tom Shevlin

July 11, 2013 Newport This Week Page 11

‘Keepers of the Dream’ Honored at MLK The Martin Luther King Community Jr. Community Center recently honored three shining stars in the Newport community – people who quietly step up to better the lives of others. David D. Schuller was named the 2013 Keeper of the Dream. Schuller, a recently-retired Navy engineer, underwrites educational programming at the MLK, supporting both core subjects and enrichment opportunities outside of the traditional classroom. Leading by example, he is active in hunger programs and is a regular volunteer. His recent challenge to guests at the annual Swing into Spring dinner inspired those in at-

Philanthropist Honored for Arts Efforts Ronald Lee Fleming, a philanthropist, urban planner, and noted preservationist, has been honored with a mayoral proclamation declaring Friday, July 12, 2013 as Ronald Lee Fleming Day. Fleming, whose Bellevue House occupies a prominent place at the beginning of the famed boulevard, was recognized for his unfailing generosity and commitment to beautifying the city through various projects such as underwriting the planting of thousands of daffodils along Newport's thoroughfares. A recognized authority on the role of art in creating vibrant, livable places, Fleming was credited for "adding luster to Newport’s worldwide reputation as a showcase of art and architecture." In addition to spearheading the city's annual daffodil display, Fleming has taken on and supported a number of other beautification projects, including the rehabilitation of the John Grenville Winslow Triangle at the entrance to Ocean Drive, and has been a strong supporter of the Newport Tree Society's efforts to maintain the city's specimen trees. He has also opened his property for the Secret Garden Tour which supports school arts programs. Over the years, Fleming has contributed to the publishing of the AIA guide to Newport, led an effort to install a historic marker program along Bellevue Avenue, and supported a neighborhood plan which resulted in a compact between the Bellevue Ochre Point Neighborhood and Salve Regina University and the Preservation Society of Newport County. A graduate of Pomona College and Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, Fleming was recognized as a pioneer in the "Main Street Revitalization Movement" in the early 1970s and is a recognized authority in matters of urban design. On Friday, he will open his house to the Island Moving Co. for their annual summer gala, where his work will be formally recognized. Fleming has used his property to showcase the work of local artists and architects and to support many organizations in the nonprofit community in Newport and throughout Rhode Island.

tendance to give to the most successful Fund-a-Need event in MLK history. The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Donald G. Pfeiffer. A founder of the information technology department, Pfeiffer refurbished donated computers to start the computer lab and mentors youth to develop their computer skills. He has rebuilt hundreds of computers for community members unable to afford the cost of repairs and for donation to low-income individuals via the Center’s Computer Recycling Program. The Gilbane Building Company was honored as the Corporate Keeper of the Dream. The company, led by Thomas F.

Gilbane Jr., has a corporate climate that fosters community involvement through its “Gilbane Cares” initiative, routinely stepping in to offer assistance at a level that would not be possible without sizable funding and manpower. Last year, the company, led by 35 executives, painted the exterior of the Center. “’The Keeper of the Dream’ honors heroes whose passion and dedication have made an outstanding impression on the Center, and our community. The trustees and staff unanimously agreed on our honorees; we are excited to celebrate their contributions,” said Marilyn Warren, executive director.

Thomas Gilbane Jr., David Schuller, and Donald Pfeifer. (Photo by Jen Carter)

Investing in the future…

The Breakers

Preservation Starts on the Roof For most of its 118 years, the roof of The Breakers was not quite itself. Even before it was 40 years old, it was torn apart by the legendary 1938 hurricane. For the next 60 years, it leaked in heavy rain storms, and its original vibrant tile pattern was lost in a mottled mixture of monochromatic repairs. In 1999, The Breakers roof was entered into a new digital historic preservation database administered by Preservation Society of Newport County Properties Director, and native Newporter, Curt Genga. That database, created by the internationally known firm of McGinley Hart, became the source for a 30 year, $100 million preservation and maintenance master plan for the Preservation Society’s properties that prioritized the most urgently needed projects. The Breakers roof was high up on that list. Consisting of 36,000 tiles in 9 different shapes and 5 different colors, the tile set was thought

Curt Genga

virtually impossible to replicate. It took more than a year just to precisely pin down the 5 original colors. Meanwhile, Curt found a manufacturer that could replicate the tiles and contractors willing to take on the job. It took more than 2 years and $2.4 million, but, the end result is a 21st-century roof that looks identical to its 19th century original, and that will protect the irreplaceable interiors of this National Historic Landmark for at least the next 75 years. That’s just one of the $42 million in preservation projects that Curt Genga has overseen for the Preservation Society since 2001.

The Preservation Society of Newport County is a team of people - 400 staff strong - committed to excellence. They come from every walk of life, combining their skills and passion for a common goal: To protect, preserve and present Newport and Newport’s history.

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