LEOMINSTER — Philanthropist Ronald M. Ansin, whose foundation office is in downtown Leominster, was honored with the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board’s Sen. Paul E. Tsongas Award for Exemplary Community Service at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston last Wednesday.
Tsongas’ widow, U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, nominated Ansin for the award.
Ansin was a friend of Paul Tsongas dating to the 1970s, and he has stayed in touch with his widow over the years.
Tsongas’ twin sister, Thaleia Schlesinger, introduced Ansin before the award was presented.
“Those things really made it very, very special for me,” Ansin said Monday.
The Tsongas award was given during the Greater Boston Excellence in Government Awards.
Some friends from Enterprise Bank attended, but otherwise the room was filled with government officials he did not know, Ansin said.
Ansin previously operated the shoe-manufacturing companies Anwalt Corp. of Fitchburg and L.B. Evans’ Son Co.
He also served as the state commissioner of Commerce and Development, sat on the State Job Training Coordinating Council and served as the footwear-industry adviser to the White House, according to an announcement from the awards ceremony.
Ansin joked about his philanthropic work Monday.
“My accountants say I give away too much, I can’t afford to do it,” he said.
The pleasure of helping other people is greater than anything else he does, Ansin said.
“Each of us is
here on this Earth for a limited period,” he said. “Life has been good for me. I’d like to make the world a better place in every way I can.”
Ansin has four children and 10 grandchildren.
He served or currently serves on a number of advisory boards, including Honorary YouthConnect Advisory Board chair; American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts; Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; and Gay Lesbian Advocates Defenders.
He has previously been awarded the MassEquality’s Icon Award, Brandeis University’s Dean’s Medal, GLSEN’s Respect Award, and the prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award, according to Greater Boston Federal Executive Board.
— JACK MINCH