ARTHUR B. POOLE
AWARD
1997 Honoree

JANE BANCROFT GOLEC

When Jane Golec was growing up in Hartford, A Sunday School teacher stressed the importance of doing for others. It is the creed by which Golec has lived her life.

Golec, now retired from he job as a home health aide, has served many community organizations in town in the 27 years she has lived here. They range from Harwinton Congregational Church, where she has been a member of the choir for 25 years, a deacon and served on a number of committees, to the Friends of the Harwinton Library, of which she is a founding member.

Her long list of credits includes president of the Harwinton Historical Society, charter member of the Friends of the Harwinton Public Library, member of the Hungerford Memorial Library Board, member of the Harwinton Woman’s Club, member of the Torrington Council of Churches’ Emergency Fund Committee, and a member of the Harwinton Veterans’ Memorial Committee. She’s also a member of the Harwinton Agricultural Society, the Bronc Callahan Harwinton Hoedown, and the Republican Town Committee. She was also a Girl Scout assistant leader and a Cub Scout leader.

It was her efforts to help her neighbors over the years that most impressed the Poole committee, said Howard Kreidwise, a spokesman for the group. “This year we had quite a few nominees, but she stood out a little more. One of the deciding factors is what she has done as an individual for her neighbors,” he said.

For Jane Heady and MADD of Litchfield County, Golec is a valuable member of the group’s victims-impact panel.

Golec speaks to young people at area high schools, at the police academy and for McCall Foundation about the tragic loss of her 19 year old son Christopher George Golec. On the way home from work, Chris Golec died on Oct., 6, 1989 in an automobile accident caused by a drunken driver.

“I tell them about chris, then about the accident, and how it devastated our family, not just our immediate family but aunts and uncles, cousins and friends.” She said. Golec said she is not a public speaker but still needs no notes to talk about Chris.

“Jane has found a way to turn a personal tragedy into something positive,” Heady said. “She’s always been there. She’s never missed a beat.”

Golec is married to Edward Golec and has two other grown children; Matthew and Jennifer.

Soures:
Harwinton Historical Society Scrapbook
The Republican American Newspaper

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