Occupation: I am retired. I was the office manager and assistant to the president of the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield until 1999. I also taught administrative skills through the continuing education program at Sacred Heart University. My
Occupation: I am retired. I was the office manager and assistant to the president of the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield until 1999. I also taught administrative skills through the continuing education program at Sacred Heart University. My whole thing really is how to build a team, be a team. How to get people to do what you need to do.
Family: My husband, Joseph. We have five children between us in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine, and ten grandchildren who are from 7 months to 16 years old. Joe had one other son, who is deceased.
Pets: No pets. I have enough grandchildren to take care of.
How long have you been in Newtown? I have been in Newtown over 25 years.
What do you like to do in your free time? I gave up multitasking when I retired. Now I can be in present time. I love to write, I love art, and I love to travel. One of the things I loved was being co-president of Business and Professional Women with Kaaren Valenta. It was amazing. I got to know the resources of these women. I love to gather women together in a creative way. A spin off of the creativity program I was a part of a couple of years ago at the library, Creative Wellspring, is my poetry group of ten women. We call ourselves âLoose Women Poets.â We have been together four years. And I love to be involved in the community. Itâs wonderful to have the time and talent to be available to our family and community.
Who is your favorite artist? My son, Jeff Smith, my friend Judy Corrigan, and my niece, Melissa.
Do you have a favorite author? Anita Shreve. I just finished her book Light On Snow. Iâm a very eclectic reader. Iâm also reading Awakening Intuition by Dr Mona Lisa Schulz.
What is the best thing about Newtown? I would say the people. I did leave for a while; coming back to meet up with old friends, we didnât miss a beat. There was a bridge I didnât even know to old friends.
Do you carry anything interesting in your purse? I carry all my coupons in my purse, just in case. I never pay retail.
Do you have a philosophy of life? Itâs all about me, which sounds very self-serving, but itâs really about taking care of me. Right now I have a lot of little ones to take care of. Iâm the nanny-nurse. If I donât take care of me, Iâm no good in all the places Iâm needed. I have time to cherish things.
What do you most cherish? My health. Mental and physical, which gives me the ability to love. I say to my children, âI probably love you more than ever because Iâm able to.â I cherish Joe. Our life has been a journey. Itâs been a journey through all the experiences a second marriage can bring.
SNAPSHOT: Ginger Humeston