Backus’ Fontaine honored as Citizen of the Year
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In his line of work as Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Backus’ Keith Fontaine is rarely at a loss for words. But in accepting the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s 60th annual Citizen of the Year award Tuesday night at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, he admitted the phenomenon had seized him several times leading up to the ceremony.
“Anyone who believes that she or he deserves this level of attention and pageantry does, by definition, not deserve this honor. This is deeply touching and very humbling,” he said.
At Backus, Mr. Fontaine is responsible for the hospital’s public relations and marketing efforts, oversees the Volunteer Services Department, and is in charge of the Office of Philanthropy and Development. Before coming to Backus in 2002, he was executive editor of the Norwich Bulletin, where he had worked for 21 years, holding a variety of reporting, editing and newsroom management positions.
Mr. Fontaine was nominated by Backus President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Whitehead, he himself a previous recipient of the award and a coworker at the Bulletin.
“Keith is exactly the individual in our region today who exemplifies the true citizenship for which this award was first created,” he said. “I know I speak for our entire team in stating that we are very fortunate to have you as our colleague, our friend and a trusted member of the Backus family.”
It is his work in the community that set him apart in regards to the Chamber honor. As a Norwich native, Mr. Fontaine has immersed himself in many community and civic organizations. In addition to his work with the Chamber, he is serving his second term as President of the Otis Library Board of Trustees, and has recently become a member of the Board of Directors of Hospice Southeastern Connecticut.
In the past, he has served as vice chairman of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, where he led that agency’s strategic planning process. He has been a member of the Norwich Rotary Club, the Society of the Founders of Norwich, and was a founding member of the Norwich Safe Communities Coalition
“I have come to regard this event as not being about honoring a citizen, but about celebrating citizenship,” Mr. Fontaine said. “No individual — no single citizen — can do anything without a community — a whole city — of people. So, collaboration and partnership are really what we are lifting up.”
In the true spirit of collaboration, Mr. Fontaine’s children — 16-year-old Emma and 13-year-old Nick — took turns bringing the house down with their list of things you didn’t know about “Dad” ranging from his experimental culinary exploits to his aptitude with the remote control for the family entertainment center.
But in the end, this “kid from Taftville,” who went to school to become an English teacher, is more than willing to let actions speak louder than words.
“The worst economic conditions many of us have seen in our lifetimes has caused some pain, and prompted some difficult decisions for every municipality and every organization I can think of,” Mr. Fontaine said. “I submit to you that if any region can benefit from collaboration, eastern Connecticut can. With two hospitals, two newspapers, two regional health districts, several chambers, unnumbered civic causes and unmet human needs — there ought to be plenty of room for conversation and engagement. There are many tables to reach hands across.”