By Liz Leamy
Louise Weber, the ever-dedicated member of the community whose many contributions over the years included that of being a prominent member of the Garden Club of Old Greenwich as well as a Board Member and former Chair of the Bruce Museum before having sadly passed last November, was honored by The First Bank of Greenwich in a heartwarming event held at their main office on East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob on Wednesday, January 10th that featured two exquisite tabletop holiday trees she had designed for the Greenwich Historical Society’s annual Holiday Festival of Tabletop Trees of which the bank had purchased at a silent auction for visitors and customers to enjoy throughout the holiday season.
This memorable and moving event captured so much of Weber’s spirit as those in attendance happily came together in honor of her wonderful legacy, talent and contributions to the world of horticulture through the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and beyond.
“Louise Weber was wonderful and I’ll always remember first meeting her. When you meet somebody special, you just know,” said Frank Gaudio, President and Chief Executive Officer of The First Bank of Greenwich. “We’ve been very fortunate to have these trees here over the holidays.”
Weber’s two tabletop holiday trees, meanwhile, were on display as golden centerpieces at this moving event that was attended by many of her friends, including many longtime colleagues who had known her through the Greenwich Club of Old Greenwich.
Moreover, Weber’s trees, which were decorated with beautiful birds, butterflies and golden nests she had painted with blue ‘eggs,’ among other interesting things, vividly seemed to capture her personality, talent and eye in regard to her gardening and flower expertise while also representing a symbol of the major role she played in regard to the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and other organizations within the community.
“Louise had a great love for the Garden Club of Old Greenwich. She knew floral design and she knew gardening and also just loved birds,” said Wendy MacDonald, a longtime Greenwich resident and President of the Garden Club of Old Greenwich from 2014 to 2016 who had been a close colleague and friend of Weber’s over the years. “Louise and I had a long history together and she was my mentor.”
Most certainly, Weber’s impact and spirit seemed to be reflected through her two beautiful trees on display at The First Bank of Greenwich, both of which had been purchased by the bank at the Greenwich Historical Society’s Annual Holiday Festival of Tabletop Trees Event auction.
“Louise was near and dear to all of us,” said Barbara Johann, Manager of the Greenwich Historical Society Museum Store who is very involved with the organization’s Annual Holiday Festival of Tabletop Trees Event. “She was so loving and we were honored in all she did.”
Others agreed.
“She really was a great person and was an expert at so many things,” said Sue Baker, the renowned retired Greenwich High School teacher, Conservationist and Preservationist of who the Sue H. Baker Pavilion at Greenwich Point is named after. “She was so compassionate a person, was gung-ho on everything and demanded excellence in all she did.”
Weber, a lifelong Greenwich resident, was someone whose life involved tremendous heart, dedication, hard work and commitment, that is for certain.
As a young girl, Weber had grown up on Tod’s Driftway next to Greenwich Point and then graduated from Greenwich High School. From there, she went on to earn a Master of Arts Degree from Teachers College at Columbia University.
As a longtime Board Member of the Bruce Museum, Weber had served as its Chair from 1988 to 1992, having made a major impact with that organization in terms of her involvement and dedication during her time there.
Weber, who joined the Garden Club of Old Greenwich in 1983, became a force there, serving as its President from 1994 to 1996 and again from 2006 to 2008.
Known for her humble, kind and lively spirit, Weber was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, having served six years as the organization’s Horticulture Chair, among other notable things.
“She was always precise and she knew the handbook and the rules,” said Wendy MacDonald. “She was not only a large presence in the Garden Club of Old Greenwich, but at the state level. She was all about a gold standard in every way.”
