Every good cause on Shelter Island for the past 50 years has benefited from the support of Andrew and Alice Fiske: usually monetary but also always backed up with personal time and energy.
         At 83, Alice Fiske is a moving force for the Historical Society, the Friends of the Library, the Educational Foundation,  the senior citizen programs, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Garden Club.   She personally financed the initial dig at Sylvester Manor -- possibly the most significant archaeological discovery in the late 20th century in the eastern United States.
         She knows and cares about every year-round resident of the Island.
         Much of the year Alice's self imposed public, daily schedule may be 12 to 16 hours long.
         She generously opens her home and gardens to many organizations each year for fund raising events. And, she is there, the ever present and knowledgeable hostess.
         A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, when few women went to college, Alice reads voraciously, mostly scientific journals.
         As valuable as Alice Fiske is as a public cheerleader for all good causes on Shelter Island, she is to her friends the best friend anyone could have. She has many.
         She knows all our secrets. And she keeps them. She laughs and cries with all of us. She gives advice if asked, but forgets if you ignore it.
         She is such great fun!
         And a real lady -- with her tailored suits and matching hats and gloves -- also with wisdom, generosity, intellect, and a heart of gold.
         She may never be caught in pants, but she wields a wild shovel -- especially when she is urging you to dig an iris or a daisy from one of the oldest gardens in North America to move to your own.

Alice Fiske at the daily 4 pm briefing conducted at the archaeological dig at Sylvester Manor, June 2000





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