Sully District Lady & Lord Fairfax, Trudy Harsh and Michael Frey, with Supervisor Kathy Smith (D-Sully).
Every year since 1984, two individuals from each of the nine Fairfax County magisterial districts, as well as two from the at-large “domain” of Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova are honored for their service to their communities or for particular acts of heroism. For their dedication, these community caretakers are named Lord and Lady Fairfax for the year.
The 2017 honorees were feted at a reception at the County Government Center on the morning of June 6. Following this gathering, the Lords and Ladies were escorted into the board auditorium where their accomplishments were publically acknowledged and each received a certificate declaring their status.
The Lords and Ladies will be making a few more appearances during their reigns, including at the signature celebration for Fairfax County’s 275th anniversary, which will take place in the area surrounding the Historic Fairfax Courthouse in central Fairfax, on June 17. Just to add another “jewel in the crown” of this event which promises fun and festivities for the whole family, the real Lord and Lady Fairfax will be joining celebration all the way from Great Britain.
Nicholas Fairfax, 14th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, and Lady Annabella will help celebrate the founding of our county from when the area was part of lands owned by his ancestor, the 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.
In announcing the visit by Lord and Lady Fairfax (the originals), Bulova laughed that the noble guests seemed a bit confused by the fact that there were more peers in Virginia whom they would be meeting. “Only here in Fairfax,” she told him. “We’re special.”
— Andrea Worker
At-Large - Chairman Bulova
Lord Fairfax: John J. “Jeff” Lisanick is a former client at New Hope Housing’s Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter. Desiring to give back to the homeless community, he joined the Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) as an original member in 2012. Since being elected chair of the CAC in 2013, he has been a member of the Governing Board with a goal of preventing and ending homelessness. Lisanick took his passion to end homelessness to a new level in July 2015 when he was hired by New Hope Housing as the residential coordinator of the same shelter in which he was once a client. He now serves as the coordinator of residential services, overseeing seven different sites.
Lady Fairfax: Jane Miscavage has been an asset to both Fairfax County Public Schools and the community at large. In 2007, she began serving as a founder and manager of the Food Allergy Support Group of Northern Virginia, where she helped over 400 families access up-to-date allergy research and health care professionals. Her commitment to children and families continued through her service to #IamFCPS, a grassroots organization that advocated for a fully funded 2017 FCPS budget, and later, as the Vote Yes Meals Tax Campaign Manager. Currently, Miscavage continues to serve the schools as vice president of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs.
Sully District
Lord Fairfax: Michael Frey, an involved member of the Sully community, initially served as an aide to other supervisors and then as the first Sully District supervisor in 1992. He has also coached youth sports for Southwest Youth Association and is involved with their Sports Park project. He presently serves as chair of the Dulles Suburban Advisory Group and on the boards of the Historic Centreville Society and the Fairfax County Historical Society. He recently joined the Board of the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, which was named after him in recognition of his lifelong commitment to animals’ issues.
Lady Fairfax: Trudy Harsh uses her personal experience to improve the community. As the president of the board of directors of the Brain Foundation, she was driven to establish the organization stemming from a tragic experience: her daughter had surgery for a brain tumor when she was 8 years old, which left her delayed emotionally and physically. The Brain Foundation provides affordable housing to many, most commonly those suffering from serious brain diseases. Since 2003, the Brain Foundation has created permanent housing for 36 individuals. Recently, she was awarded the Good Neighbor Award by The National Association of Realtors, and Washingtonian of the Year in 2010 by the Washingtonian magazine.