Flanked on Sunday by friends, neighbors and fellow Fair Haven Fire Department (FHFD) volunteers, seemingly forever Fair Havenite Ann Dupree bade goodbye before leaving her River Road home of more than half a century.

A house is definitely a home. But Dupree has been a Fair Havenite even decades longer than she called the River Road house her home — certainly long enough to call her a forever Fair Havenite. She’s an RFH grad, too, as were her children and step-children.

“Ann, we will miss seeing your jaunty wave as you drive by in your convertible, your front porch knitting club gals, your steadfast gardening, your many years in the Firemen’s Fair Super 50/50 booth, your service to the Fire Department, your support for kids at Sickles School, and wish you the best of luck!!!!”

Katy Badt Frissora, neighbor and fellow FH Fire Department volunteer

Yes, if you’ve been around the towns for a while, you’ve likely seen Ann Dupree around town, at the door and volunteering at events (like the FHFD Spaghetti Dinner and the fair), chatting at the Acme, presiding over the FHFD Auxiliary — or you’ve just plain known her very well for a very long time. She is so intricately woven into the fabric of Fair Haven that there’s not a pin hole to be seen in her townie quilt.

And after all those years of growing up in Fair Haven and making and keeping her own adulthood homes there, she’s headed to North Carolina to retire from Fair Havenhood to be with family. The retirement from Fair Haven life is only physical though, as we know once a Fair Havenite, always a Fair Havenite.

So, ride on to your new neighborhood in that convertible of yours, Ann! Fair Havenites will always see you everywhere you’ve touched their lives around the towns.

Editor‘s note to Ann Dupree: I certainly won’t forget the special visits made to my mom when she was was ill, nor will I forget the laughs over my video questions at the fair as you, in all great humor, tried to dodge the camera! Gotcha! Thank you and cheers!

— Featured photo/courtesy of Katy Badt Frissora

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