Neuhaus presents Sue Heywood with February’s Citizen of the Month Award

Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus has named Sue Heywood as February’s Citizen of the Month Award recipient.

Heywood was recognized for her continued dedication to residents in Tuxedo. She was nominated for the award by Tuxedo Councilwoman Michele Lindsay.

“Sue is a dedicated volunteer in our community and all of her hard work and efforts are greatly appreciated,” Neuhaus said. “She always goes above and beyond to help others and to support local initiatives as well as global causes. Guided by her faith, Sue has performed this work with great humility and compassion, and I am proud to recognize her as Citizen of the Month.”

Providing help locally and in the world

Heywood, a retired schoolteacher, has volunteered in Tuxedo since she moved to Orange County from Upper Saddle River, N.J., in 2001.

As chairwoman and an active member of St. Mary’s-in-Tuxedo Outreach, Heywood helps provide emergency assistance for community members and Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas gifts for local families and children.

She also helps raise funds for scholarships for children to attend summer camp in Tuxedo. In 2022, 15 children were sponsored.

In addition, Heywood taught classes with the Tuxedo Library’s ESL program for many years and is on the Board of Sloatsburg Food Pantry, which serves Tuxedo and neighboring towns.

Heywood has been President of the Tuxedo Park Garden Club, which beautifies Tuxedo and Tuxedo Park.

Furthermore, Heywood brought music, drama and dance talent to the community at large as co-founder of Tuxedo Performing Arts Group which ran for eleven years. Heywood also collects donations for Carryou Ministry for AIDS orphans in South Africa, visiting them every year since 2001.

‘My parents ... always helped people in need’

Heywood, a native of England, taught in her native country, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana and Malta before arriving in the U.S. in 1988.

“My parents were leaders when I was growing up during and after the Second World War and always helped people in need,” Heywood said. “That had a tremendous impact on my life and influenced me to assist others; I am glad to be able to do so. Tuxedo, and St Mary’s in particular, has a wonderful group of civic-minded residents who are very caring and compassionate. I am proud of the work that we have accomplished together.”