Occupation: I am a paralegal/office manager at the law office of Edward J. Kelleher, LLC. My alma mater is Dickinson College. I graduated with a bachelor of arts majoring in political science and minoring in English and economics. Previously, I was a registered rep with a brokerage firm in Washington, D.C., and later a private placement, tax incentive investment product administrator in New York City. I stayed home with my children until my husband, Ed, decided to open a solo legal practice here in Newtown. I earned a paralegal certificate through the University of Connecticut and got to work.

How Long in Newtown: Newtown has been home for 13 years. We moved here from the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. Prior to that I lived in Washington, D.C. I grew up in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

Biggest Change You Have Seen in Town: The C.H. Booth Library transformation from a small serene hushed institution to the larger facility with hubbub in the central and children’s section while still providing the familiar quiet in the reading, reference, and study areas. The new and the old were successfully melded. I hope the town development can be as successful.

Family: Ed and I met in college 25 years ago and have been married for 17 years. Our daughter, Kate, 13, is in the seventh grade at Newtown Middle School and our son, Dylan, 12, is in the sixth grade at Reed Intermediate School. They both attended Sandy Hook School K–5.

Hobbies: Learning as much as I can about Celtic spirituality and Irish culture. I spend a lot of time researching travel ideas. Over Thanksgiving we spent six days in London. I saw six plays, two museums, the Tower of London, and London Eye, but we ran out of time before seeing Buckingham Palace. We are members of Mystic Seaport and visit year round. Occasionally, I crochet baby blankets. I enjoy regional theater, reading, and watching a lot of TV.

Favorite Books and Authors: Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles and An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser are two favorites. Contemporary authors I currently enjoy are Edna O’Brien, John Irving, Ann Tyler, and Louise Erdrich. In the past two weeks I have read three excellent books of fiction, Ann Packer’s The Dive from Clausen’s Pier, April Morning by Howard Fast, and Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich.

Favorite TV Show: I watch a lot of primetime TV, and I am proud of it. Light comedy is most appealing. Scrubs, That ‘70s Show, Bernie Mac, and old BBC comedies on PBS keep me laughing.

Organizations: Currently I am on the Tech-Ed advisory committee. My Kate and Dylan are student members of the committee. Prior to working with Ed, I was very involved with several organizations. I was a member of the board of directors of the Fairfield County Affiliate of the American Diabetes Association; a member of the Junior Women’s League of Newtown; Better Business Bureau, arbitrator; Internal Revenue Service, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance; Family Counseling Center, volunteer publicity for fundraising events; and Business and Professional Women, where I served on the board as recording secretary. Last year I decided to take a breather.

Most Vivid Memory About Newtown: Picking Kate and Dylan up from Trinity Day School, crossing Main Street at the flagpole, walking to the General Store, the kids running up the ramp in front of Newtown Savings Bank, afterwards sitting in front of town hall, then walking to the library, back to Trinity parking lot and then going home or to Dickinson Park. A very pleasant routine.

Favorite Vacation Spot: Ireland. I never tire of visiting and exploring the Emerald Isle. I hope to bring several friends over there soon on a trip. Our second home in Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J., is also a bright spot.

Personal Philosophy: I try to remember Peter Maurin’s words, “The world would be better off if people tried to become better. And, people would become better if they stopped trying to become better off. For, when everybody tries to become better off, nobody is better off. But, when everybody tries to become better, everybody is better off.”

SNAPSHOT

WITH PHOTOGRAPH

DOREEN KELLEHER