THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603150230
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Janie Bryant
LENGTH: Long : 120 lines
TWO THINGS YOU NEED to know about Helen Fooshe.
If you're trying to find her in a crowd, she's the white-haired woman wearing purple.
And if you've got something or somebody to complain about, don't bother looking for her.
``If I have something negative to say I know that Helen is not the one to take it to because she just literally shuts it off,'' says Sharon Salyer, a member of the city's Face to Face With Race study circles committee. ``I think she just really has very positive feelings about the human race in general and that the little frailties don't affect her.''
That outlook on life and people is one of the reasons Fooshe has been effective in her role as chairman of the study circles committee, Salyer says.
Fooshe will be honored for that work at the YWCA's annual Winner's Dinner this Wednesday night. She will receive the Mary Helen Thomas Award, given in honor of individuals who make significant contributions to the elimination of racism.
Portsmouth's study circles were launched by the city's Cultural Diversity Action Team almost two years ago to help promote harmony and understanding among all citizens.
The movement got off to a slower start than organizers had hoped, but it is picking up steam and even crossing city lines, according to Fooshe.
And she is thrilled that churches are now signing up to take part in the five-week discussion sessions.
The committee chairman says two churches are ready to begin and she is in the process of trying to match members of nine predominately black churches with members of nine predominately white churches.
Fooshe, now 76, was a young physical education teacher for an integrated school in Colorado when she first witnessed the ugliness of racial discrimination.
She's never forgotten it.
A black child had cut an artery in her leg from glass on the school playground. Even though the girl was bleeding badly, the principal forced her to walk into the school house until medics arrived.
``I know it was because she was black,'' Fooshe recalls. ``I was angry. I really wanted to tell him off, but I don't know if I did say anything or not.''
People who know Fooshe today would find it hard to believe she could have remained silent.
She was a member of a prayer group in the 1960s that met to pray for racial healing during the unrest of that time. During the same period, she joined the Unity church, which fosters interracial and interdenominational understanding.
She called the city and joined its effort as soon as she read about it.
Salyer, who describes Fooshe as a mentor, says the cultural diversity team is now moving beyond the issues of racism.
``It's evolved to the point that we can celebrate diversity.
``And I think that's what Helen's been doing all along.''
Name: Helen Kehmeier Fooshe
Nickname: ``Spuddie,'' only by my aunts who helped raise me.
Neighborhood: West Park View
Number of years in Portsmouth: 14
Birthplace: Fresno, Calif., but moved to Eckert, Colo. (western slope), when I was 2 months old. My mother died, and I lived then with my grandparents.
Birthdate: Nov. 8, 1919
Occupation: ``Professional'' volunteer - study circles in Portsmouth, Hospice Volunteers of Portsmouth, Lee's Friends (also a support group for people with cancer) and three different Toastmasters chapters.
What job other than your own would you like? None
Marital Status: Married to Sanders Fooshe
Children/Grandchildren: None - only cousins, nieces and nephews.
Fondest childhood memory: Fourth of July picnic on the lawn at my grandparents' home in western Colorado. All the family came - with food and games.
First concert: Denver Symphony Orchestra, December 1944, in Denver.
What song or book title best describes your life? The song, ``I Love Myself the Way I Am'' (This is true now - it wasn't always that way).
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? Gift to the building fund of my church, Unity Renaissance, and to the Ghent Methodist Church in Norfolk where my husband and I were married.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I truly can't think of anyone.
Biggest accomplishment: Successful competition of Toastmaster year as District 66 Governor. We achieved ``Distinguished District'' again - a tradition in District 66.
Most embarrassing moment: Putting shrimp in a seafood dish without cooking them first - at a church supper! Now my husband always cooks the shrimp.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would like to be ``tall'' again - 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall. I've shrunk to 5-4.
Perfect way to spend the day: A picnic (picking steamed crabs) for lunch, under a shelter at Corolla beach in south Nag's Head. Supplemented with tomatoes and peaches purchased at roadside stands in the summer.
I can't resist: A good book - ``The Alchemist'' by Paulo Coelho; ``The Celestine Prophecy'' by James Redfield; and ``My American Journey'' by Colin Powell.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: The Max, with a table overlooking the water.
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: Kitchen in my home, overlooking the backyard, with grass, flowers and trees (no water).
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Reputation of being undesirable, as perceived by outsiders and some of our own citizens.
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
That our residents and neighbors would appreciate each other and our city.
That our citizens would support their elected officials and others who are working to make our city beautiful.
That we would ``talk and listen'' to each other.
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? Lack of excessive traffic to get where I want to go; libraries available - I use them all - and concerts at Willett Hall. MEMO: Organizations or individuals interested in learning more about the study
circles should call Fooshe at 398-9044. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Helen Fooshe
by CNB