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ARTHUR B. POOLE
AWARD
1995 Honoree
JOHN
H. AUDIA
Local resident
John Audia reprised a 35 year love affair with Harwinton.
The 65 year old Torrington born dynamo said he lived
in “four different Torrington rental units”
before buying a small home on Lake Harwinton Road in
1959.
“I told myself I’d Try establish a home
here and try to contribute something to the community”
Audia said.
Audia’s vow has taken him throughout Connecticut
serving Harwinton. A partial list of his civic credits
includes long stints with a variety of fraternal, civic
and medical associations that included the Little League,
the state Emergency medical Service Board, the Harwinton
Ambulance Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, usher
and custodian of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
and a number of Lions Club posts that included a regional
directorship that covered 19 towns. He also organized
the town’s first Boy Scout pack.
Master of ceremonies for the event was Ed Coyle, a personal
friend of Audia’s from Sharon. Speakers included
local Lions Club officer Walter Bell, District Lions
Club Official Al Dodge and local attorney and former
state representative Mike Rybak, among others.
Audia characterizes himself as a semi-retired, tire
wholesaler. His “business assignments” now
cover three states.
Harwinton Assessor Elizabeth Goodwin said Audia “represents
the civic backbone of Harwinton.”
“I worked with John during his decade-long tenure
on the Board of Finance,” she said. “His
concern for the community was evident in everything
he did.”
Local attorney and former state representative Mike
Rybak said, “John and Marcia Audia represent Harwinton
at it’s best”.
“The Audias kept the local Harwinton Ambulance
Service alive and well by conducting door-to-door recruitment
drives,” he said. “They have both served
the area with distinction.”
Harwinton First Selectman Marie Knudsen said “John’s
helping hands have always assisted this community.”
Audia said he was honored “to be ranked with other
Poole recipients.”
“It’s hard to believe they’ve put
me with the previous winners,” he said. “This
ranks as one ofg the nicest honors of my life.”
Marcia Poole echoed her husband’s sentiments.
“We always felt it was just a natural thing to
help friends and neighbors,” she said.
Soures:
Harwinton Historical Society Scrapbook
The Register Citizen Newspaper
For Photos
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