Bob Orcutt of the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse is Presented with an ALF Volunteer Award

The American Lighthouse Foundation held its annual lighthouse gala at the Four Points by Sheraton in Eastham, MA, on April 28, 2012.

The organization’s signature event featured some wonderful lighthouse camaraderie, fundraising, a great meal and some Cape Cod lighthouses open for climbing (Nauset, The Three Sisters and Highland), but the highlight of the evening event was the presentation of awards to well-deserving individuals and groups for their amazing dedication to lighthouse preservation and education.

One of the awards presented was the 2012 ALF “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award,” which was presented to twelve outstanding volunteers throughout the organization.

The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse (FOWIL) recognized Bob Orcutt this year with the honor for his above and beyond contributions to ALF/FOWIL’s mission.

The following text was read to attendees at the lighthouse gala as Bob Orcutt was presented with his 2012 “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award”…

“Bob Orcutt, FOWIL’s 2012 Volunteer of the Year, continues a family tradition of service to Wood Island Lighthouse that dates back 116 years. Bob is the great grandson of Thomas Henry Orcutt, the legendary keeper at Wood Island Lighthouse from 1886 to 1905. Bob was present at the founding of the chapter back in 2003 and has given his personal time and financial support to FOWIL and its work continuously ever since. 

He is one of three captains who transport visitors on tours to the island in our boat, the Light Runner, every week throughout the summer. A native of Biddeford Pool, Bob was a lobsterman and has been a recreational sailor in the area all his life. He knows the waters surrounding the island well and navigates them with an easy-going confidence. In the family tradition, he often captains the boat while his sister Carol, another staunch FOWIL volunteer, accompanies the visitors as their host on the island. 

Bob was also one of the early “Woodchucks”, our weekly grounds maintenance crew that goes out to the island to cut the grass and keep the place looking sharp. And, he is always mindful of the safety of his trips and the welfare of his passengers. So, at Bob’s urging and with his assistance last summer, we developed a coordinated emergency response system taking medical and law enforcement authorities to the island to develop and refine the plan.

For Bob’s long and distinguished service to FOWIL, we are pleased to recognize his efforts and the contribution he has made to FOWIL’s success.”

Did you know?

The American Lighthouse Foundation’s “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award” was named after Len Hadley, one of the original volunteers of the organization in 1994. Len possessed a wonderful personality and ability to connect with others, and was a stellar volunteer for a number of ALF projects throughout the years.

The vital pillar supporting the American Lighthouse Foundation’s success in preservation, education and public access programs over the past eighteen years has undeniably been the dedication of ALF volunteers such as Len Hadley.

When Len sadly passed away in October 2000, the ALF board of directors honored his uncommon dedication to volunteerism by naming an award after him that would recognize other outstanding ALF volunteers for the same passion, selflessness and commitment to lighthouse preservation for which Len stood for.