Moorings Park resident Anne Foster has been recognized by the City of Naples with the prestigious Sam Noe Award.
In a testament of profound dedication to the City of Naples, Moorings Park resident Anne Foster has received the esteemed Sam Noe Award. Established in 2006 to honor Planning Advisory board member Samuel V. Noe, this award annually recognizes a city-appointed board or committee member who has demonstrated outstanding and exemplary civic service.
Finding Purpose in Naples After Retirement
From her roots in Louisville, Kentucky and her education at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, Anne built a successful professional career in Baltimore, Maryland, as a Statistical Analyst at The Rothschild Company and Vice President & Client Relationship Manager at the Atlantic Trust Company. A mother to six adult children and grandmother of thirteen grandchildren, Anne has resided in Naples since 2008 and embraces the lifestyle the city offers.
“After retiring, I quickly realized that I wanted to give back,” said Anne. “When I moved to Naples full-time, I was able to really put my heart and soul into the community.”
In 2015, Anne began her service to the City of Naples on the Community Services Advisory Board, which oversees the parks and the trees in the city of Naples. This journey lasted until 2024. During this time, she served as vice chair for three years and as chair for six years.
“Serving the city of Naples on the Community Services Advisory Board opened up my mind and my interest to what really goes on in the city, and I was so honored to be a part of that as a citizen. It was a very enlightening experience, and it really opened my eyes to all the nuances of running a city just from a parks and trees standpoint,” said Anne.
Shaping Naples’ Parks and Green Spaces Through Service
During her near-decade long term on the Community Services Advisory Board, one particular project took precedent.
“We began with a tour of all of our city parks, and when we came to Charlie C. Anthony Park, it was such a shock to see how neglected it had been while other parks were being improved. The minute I saw the park, it struck me that this was something that I really wanted to focus on,” said Anne. “We brought in two residents from the neighborhood and began working with them every month to see what they wanted in the park and what we could do to help the neighborhood in general.”
Charlie C. Anthony Park, located in the Gordon River Apartments very near Baker Park, was named after Private Charlie C. Anthony, a previous resident of the River Park East neighborhood where the park resides. C. Anthony served during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart for his service. Anne is very proud of the board’s contributions to Charlie C. Anthony Park to date, and considers it a defining moment in her service to the community.
“I'm happy to say that over the years, [the board’s vision for] the park was finally created, but there's still work to be done,” said Anne. “Getting to know some of the residents who lived there was a really wonderful experience, and it was a really special time for me, personally. It's been wonderful to see how people just need a ‘hands up,’ rather than a ‘hands out.’ That's really where I got my greatest feeling of accomplishment.”
Fulfillment and Connection at Moorings Park
In addition to her work with the City of Naples, Anne is also a very active member of the Moorings Park community.
“When I moved to Moorings Park, I quickly realized that it's an amazing place where everyone can have a full life. The people that live here are real dynamos. It's hard to keep up with them,” said Anne. “I'm involved with some organizations here, which I love. I have been on the finance committee and now I am on the spiritual life committee which is really going to make a lot of difference to residents here. I'm very excited to be a part of that.”
In 2011 and 2021, respectively, Moorings Park residents Jim Rideoutte and Thomas D. McCann received the Sam Noe award.
“There is no more deserving person [to win this award than Anne],” said Thomas. “We offer our fond congratulations and best wishes to a delightful colleague.”
Luxury Senior Living in Naples, Florida
Moorings Park Communities is a nationally accredited, Medicare-certified, non-profit retirement living provider and one of the only Life Plan Communities in the country with A or A+ ratings by Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings. Ranked the #4 retirement community in North America, Moorings Park Communities is setting the standard for luxury retirement living, offering upscale residences, world-class amenities, and outstanding healthcare services across all three campuses in Naples, Florida: Moorings Park, Moorings Park at Grey Oaks, and Moorings Park Grande Lake. To learn more, go to www.MooringsPark.org, attend an event, schedule a private tour, or call 239-451-5509.
