Donald Upton and Dorrie Stearns-Upton have been awarded the inaugural Sanderson Sloane Lifetime Achievement Award by the Cathedral of the Pines Foundation in Rindge. Trustee Chair Gregory Walsh presented the award, which honors exceptional dedication through service and philanthropy.

Over more than 30 years, the Uptons’ contributions include funding the maintenance of hiking trails that bear their names, providing signage for the Hilltop House and installing a digital bell system for the Women’s Memorial Bell Tower. They oversaw sustainable forestry plans across the property’s 236 acres and led the redevelopment of the main sanctuary after the 2008 ice storm.

The Uptons have also curated exhibits for the Peter J. Booras Museum, supported the Hilltop House renovations completed in 2022 and cultivated donor relationships, including securing a $20,000 gift to widen the DAR Pathway. Their financial contributions total well into six figures.

In accepting the award, Donald Upton said, “We love the cathedral. It has been a passion and a joy of ours over the years.”