Donor spotlight: denali delmar
Denali Delmar used to know her library card number by heart. She visited the J.V. Fletcher library so often while doing research for her graduate degree that she had the account’s digits memorized.
A lifelong activist who has always had a philanthropic spirit, Denali was the first person to donate to the Foundations’ fundraising campaign in support of the building project. “I love this town,” Denali said. “I moved around a lot in my 20s. But when I came to Westford in 1979, I stayed put. And I sunk down deep roots.”
Denali describes the library of the late 70s and early 80s as “a grim place full of smiling faces.” Though the building contained a lot of dark oak, the staff were friendly. It was during that time period that she met current Director Ellen Rainville, a person for whom she has “tremendous respect.”
Denali said she loved coming to the library with her two sons when they were small. She remembers being able to borrow fine art prints from artists like Van Gogh and Monet, an activity the family found fun. At one point Denali served a term as a Library Trustee.
Denali Delmar
Denali is thrilled to be able to put her name and her late husband’s name on one of the study rooms in the new building. “I didn’t know I would have naming rights when I made the donation,” she said. Her husband’s family, the Sweetsers, have a long history in Westford dating back to the 1800s.
A self-described “jill of all trades” in her 20s, Denali later converted her garage in Westford into a licensed kitchen and began a bread-baking business. She sold bread at craft fairs for two decades. She also taught English and Social Studies in Lunenburg. She has championed many causes over the years, and is currently involved in Indivisible Westford, a group she helped start. Their mission, she said, is “to help regain responsibility and sensibility in government.”
One item Denali would love to see installed in the new building at some point: a self-checkout system, like the one at her son’s library in New York.
The Friends and the Foundation thank Denali for her generous donation. .