Bob Doyen Named Old Lyme’s 2018 ‘Citizen of the Year’

Old Lyme’s 2018 Citizen of the Year Robert ‘Bob’ Doyen stands proudly between his wife Barbara ‘Bobbi’ Doyen and Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder. Photos by MJ Nosal.

After several previous tries, the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen was finally able to name their choice for the 2018 Citizen of the Year at Monday evening’s Annual Town Meeting. First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder made the announcement by reading from a proclamation drawn up in honor of Robert ‘Bob’ Doyen that began with this question, “What does our 2018 Citizen of the Year have in common with Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Susan Saint James, and Walt Disney’s Black Beauty?”

The unpredicted answer was, “These celebrities came to Old Lyme for the Special Olympics in 1994 – the same year that Bob Doyen was first appointed to the Harbor Management Commission.”

Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder reads the proclamation announcing Robert ‘Bob’ Doyen, standing to her left, as Old Lyme’s 2018 Citizen of the Year.

Doyen has been a member of Old Lyme’s Harbor Management Commission for 25 years, serving as both its Treasurer and Vice Chair. As the proclamation read by Reemsnyder notes, “His appointment to Harbor Management was a perfect fit. As Bob explains on his realtor website, “having grown up on Fishers Island, the move to areas along the Connecticut shoreline and the Connecticut River was a natural one. The River and Sound have a tremendous amount to offer, be it fishing, boating or beaches. You couldn’t ask for a better place to live.””

The other organization to which Doyen has given exemplary service is the Old Lyme Volunteer Fire Department, which he joined in 1988 and where he has held the offices of Lieutenant and Purchasing Agent for the department. The proclamation states, “An active Apparatus driver, Marine operator and Pump operator, he assists in training new Apparatus drivers and Marine operators.”

Bob Doyen, the 2018 Old Lyme Citizen of the Year, stand with some of his fellow Old Lyme Fire Department members after the honor was announced.

Still reading from the proclamation, Reemsnyder continued, “Doyen’s 30+ years of service have earned him a reputation in the Fire Department for his willingness to pitch in whenever he is needed. He has been a member of the Old Lyme Volunteer Fire Department’s Apparatus Committee throughout his tenure with the department. That committee is responsible for developing the specifications for new apparatus for the department.”

Reemanyder concluded, “We thank Bob Doyen for his lengthy service to our community as we proudly name him an Old Lyme celebrity — our 2018 Citizen of the Year.”