The Mendon Council on Aging would like to thank everyone who submitted nominations for this year’s Senior Citizen Award. It is pleased to announce that this year’s winners are Russell and Anne Dudley. Russ, a lifelong Mendon resident, and Anne, who moved to Mendon in high school, have both been described by friends and family as kind, conscientious and devoted. They are devoted to each other, to their family and to their church. They have been married for 48 years and, although nominated together, each has made their fair share of contributions to the Mendon community. They boast a close-knit family, having raised five children in Mendon, four of whom live locally, and have seven grandchildren. 

Russ was raised in Mendon along with six siblings. His roots go way back—to 1820 in fact. His great, great grandfather Silas Dudley, once owner of Harrison Hall, now known as the Mendon Town Hall, donated the building to the Town. Russ has been referred to as down-to-earth and has a lengthy list of community involvement. He worked for the Mendon Post Office for thirty years, is a member of the Mendham Brothers of the Brush, was a member of Mendon’s 350th Anniversary Committee and a member of the Historic District Commission for five years. Russ joined the Mendon Call Fire Department at the age of eighteen, achieved the rank of Lieutenant, and was a member for a total of fifteen years from 1968-1983. He was a member of the Mendon Parks Commission for four years in the 1970’s and a Baseball Coach for Mendon Little League. Russ was an excellent athlete—playing both baseball and basketball. In his twenties, he played regional, recreational softball for a Mendon team sponsored by the New England Steak House and was nicknamed “Da Da Dudley” by his teammates. Another nickname from his youth is reportedly “the mayor.” During his early retirement he worked as a part-time van driver for the Mendon Senior Center from 2013-2020.

Anne (LeMarbre) Dudley – moved to Mendon in 1966, sight unseen, from South Natick, with her parents and six siblings and began high school. Later, upon graduation from Regis College she taught science at Ashland Middle School. Anne and Russ married in 1975. After taking time-off to raise their family, Anne returned to teaching in the Mendon-Upton School District. She did substitute teaching, taught fourth grade for a year and eventually was a full- time seventh grade teacher at Miscoe Hill School in the Mendon-Upton School District where she taught for over 10 years. She is remembered by her peers as being gentle, kind and dedicated—arriving early and staying late. Anne was a member of Mendon’s 350th Anniversary Committee and a member of the Festival Committee in 1991 – for the Tree Lighting in Founder’s Park and again in 2017 for the new Founder’s Park Festival Committee. Some may say Anne truly embodied the role of Mrs. Claus from 2015-2019. Anne’s knowledge of local history was put to use as a guide for the Mendon Senior Center historic van tours in 2014 and 2019 with Dick Grady and John Trainor.

Russ and Anne continue to be very active in what used to be St Michael’s Parish located in Mendon and now St Gabriel’s Parish (Mendon and Upton) located in Upton. Both Russ and Anne taught C.C.D. Anne has been a lector and is still active with St Gabriel’s Women’s Club. Russ is a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Please help us to congratulate Russ and Anne for this well-deserved honor. The Mendon Lions Club will be hosting a dinner on Sunday, September 17 at 11:30 a.m.  at the Unitarian Church, 13 Maple St., Mendon recognizing the Dudley’s and all Mendon senior citizens for their contributions. Please call the senior center at 508-478-1756 or stop by to register.