The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Patrias, Dils accept local honors at banquet
By Edward Freundl, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: November 6, 2008
The Chelsea community celebrated the good works of two of its shining lights last week.
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Sheila Morrison Patrias and Art Dils were honored with the 2008 Citizen of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award, respectively.
More than 100 friends, family, co-workers and community members marked the occasion with a banquet at the Comfort Inn's Village Conference Center, welcomed by the Master of Ceremonies Steve Olsen, Chamber president.
Cocktails began at 6:30, followed at 7 by a catered meal of beef tenderloin, chicken, mashed redskin potatoes and grilled asparagus.
After dinner, Chelsea Mayor Ann Feeney; County Commissioner Mark Ouimet, R-District 1; and State Rep. Pam Byrnes, D- District 52; presented proclamations from the city, county and state, and Olsen stood in to present for Congressman Tim Walberg, R-District 7.
"The wonder is that this hasn't happened sooner ... It's been a long time coming," Feeney said while presenting Art Dils with a proclamation from the city.
The Citizen of the Year honors a Chelsea-area person who is nominated for their work in the community in the past year.
The Lifetime Achievement award is just that, honoring a person's long-term contributions to the community.
The awards are co-sponsored by the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chelsea Standard.
Laurie Baumer, CEO of Ele's Place, nominated Patrias for her tireless efforts to establish a branch of the Lansing- based children's bereavement and counseling organization in Washtenaw County.
"Because of (Sheila), Ele's Place was inspired to help, and in July 2006, we committed" to opening the counseling center on Zeeb Road, Baumer noted in her remarks.
"She has continued to lead community fund-raising activities such as the annual breakfasts that have raised thousands of dollars in support," Baumer said.
"Without Sheila's hard work, none of this would have been possible."
Jane Shrosbee is a member of the Ele's Place Founder's Council, a group that Patrias recruited almost single-handedly to form the backbone of the local organization, but soon had the need for the bereavement services for her own family.
"When my husband Bill died in 2004, it gave us an even closer bond," Shrosbee said.
"Ele's Place is exactly what we needed in this area."
Patrias took to the podium t comment on the award.
"It's hard to believe it's been 17 years since the death of my husband Rod Morrison, which is what brought me to all of this," she said.
Patrias then thanked her daughters Stacia and Leah who were only 4 and 2 years old at the time of their father's death; and her husband, Dr. Marty Patrias.
"I truly feel that God had a plan for me, and Ele's Place was part of that plan," Patrias said.
"Chelsea has seen so many families affected by the death of a family member."
She went on to tell the story of a family in which the father had died of a heart problem last March while out hunting with his 8-year-old son and others, and the mother was six hours away on a business trip.
One of the Founders Council members told the woman about Ele's Place. Three days later she called Patrias at 4 o'clock in the morning, sobbing.
"She and I talked everything through for abut 45 minutes, and they joined Ele's Place three weeks later," Patrias said.
The speakers introducing Art Dils took a much lighter tone, roasting their good friend and causing lots of laughter.
The list of his involvement in the community is long, ranging from the school district, the hospital, Silver Maples, philanthropic foundations, and many behind-the-scenes activities.
Dils and his wife Carol are now semi-retired, and he is president and publisher of Golfing in Michigan magazine.
Jack Merkel nominated his longtime friend for the Lifetime Achievement award.
"We're here to celebrate 30 years of Art giving his time and talent to many important community organizations," Merkel said.
"Chelsea is indeed an outstanding place to live, but it didn't get there by itself — people like Art made it that way."
Will Johnson, the "founding father" of the hospital, spoke of Dils' willingness to get involved in community organizations.
"I worked with Art on Chelsea Community Hospital, Silver Maples of Chelsea and the Chelsea Civic Foundation, which later became the Chelsea Community Foundation," Johnson said.
"In all of these things, Art has been instrumental."
John Bohlender is one of Dils' closest personal friends, bridge partners, and golf and fishing buddies, and told several stories about some of their memorable outings enjoying those activities.
"Art has been my bridge partner for 28 loooong years," Bohlender said, to hoots of laughter.
"Bridge is not a complicated game; all you have to do is count to 20 — but he could never seem to make it past 14."
Dils himself spoke about his friendship with Fred Mills, one of last year's Lifetime Achievement Award winners, who was his neighbor when he moved to Chelsea in 1975 while Mills was a school district official.
"Anytime one of my daughters was going out with a young man, I'd have Fred give me a complete report," Dils said.
"We got Jack Merkel to run for mayor and Chelsea is better for it; Will Johnson gets the credit for my involvement with the hospital and Silver Maples; and let me tell you about John's golf — he's a really good bridge player."
Dils then gave recognition to his wife Carol and the many family members who attended.
Following the banquet, Bob Pierce, director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, said he couldn't be more pleased with the ceremony.
"What a great celebration this was for two of our finest citizens. I don't recall a Citizen of the Year banquet that was filled with more emotion than this year's event," Pierce said.
"Sheila's touching and poignant talk reminded all of us of the importance of organizations like Ele's Place and the people who establish them. We are so blessed to have Sheila as a member of our community.
"The parade of speakers for Art painted an equally inspiring picture of what it takes to be a person who is committed to making things happen in our town," Pierce added.
"The humor in the presentations didn't overshadow his long list of accomplishments and love for Chelsea. What a night!"
Dr. Marty Patrias said he and his family are very proud of the work his wife has done.
"Sheila really deserves this," he said. "She is not one to go seeking the spotlight, it was just something she saw that needed to be done."
Baumer also said the staff at Ele's Place is proud of Sheila's recognition.
"It feels like the culmination of a lot of hard work — it all happened with Sheila, and it wouldn't be here if not for her," Baumer said.
"I'm personally grateful for her dedication and spirit, and I know the families are grateful to have her."
Carol Dils was beaming as she spoke of the honor bestowed on her husband.
"It was a lovely evening, it was a great tribute to Art, and it was great to have all our family here to see it," she said.
The audience included Ed Hurst, the Dils' longtime friend.
"We retired and moved to Clare, and we were thrilled when Art and Carol asked us to come for this tonight," Hurst said.
"We've known them for 30 years; I first met him on the school board, and he's been a wonderful friend."
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