22st Quarter Century Award Recipients for 2011
Jerry and Ann Cronin
Please Note: The Quarter Century Award honoring Jerry and Ann Cronin will be presented on Sunday, January 15th at 3:00 pm at the Fisher School, adjacent to the Thurston Middle School. The public is invited.
The award will be presented on Sunday, January 15th at 3:00PM
The Westwood Historical Society invites residents and friends to this very special event. Refreshments will be served.
Photo Courtesy of Charles Donahue
The Westwood Historical Society is proud to announce that Jerry and Ann Cronin are the 2011 recipients of the Quarter Century Award.
The Quarter Century Award is the Historical Society's annual honorary award presented to a Westwood resident or couple of twenty-five years who has made an outstanding contribution to the community. His or her contribution to a better Westwood could be in any field, including education, religion, arts, civic or social service.
Ann and Jerry met while they were students at Northeasten University. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Westwood in 1969. Their first house was on Hooper Street, later they moved to their current home on Cobleigh Street where they raised their three children - Kate, Chris and Dave.
Professionally, Jerry worked as an Advertising Sales Manager for the Boston Globe before joining the Westwood High School faculty. Ann worked in retail sales at Appleseeds before becoming a Member Service Counselor for AAA, Southern New England.
Jerry has a remarkable record as a volunteer. His volunteer roles include founding member and past President of the Interfaith Council, Chairman of the Westwood Finance Committee, member of the Long Range Planning Committee, Chairman of the Westwood Library Trustees, member of the Islington Betterment Committee, member of the Westwood Historic Commission, and past President of the Westwood Historical Society during the restoration of the Fisher School. In 2003 he was chosen as the first recipient of the John Cronin Public Service Award in recognition of his service to the town. In 2005 the Westwood High School Yearbook was dedicated to Jerry to honor his many contributions to the school.
Jerry credits Roy London for getting him involved in so many volunteer activities. Roy was both a role model and an inspiration for Jerry. "Roy was able to see things that other people didn't see and he could think outside the box." said Jerry. He recalls a quote from Roy's father that sums up the essence of volunteerism, "True heroes are not to be found in the halls of Washington, or on the football field, or in Hollywood. The true heroes are those who love their community."
Jerry's philosophy of life is simply expressed as "Be happy, be positive, and be upbeat."
Ann has been an active volunteer both in her church and the community. An active member of Saint Denis' Parish, Ann has served as a Eucharistic Minister, CCD teacher, Secretary of the Parish Council, and a member of the Parish Activities Committee. She has volunteered a the Hanlon School and served as a Brownie Leader. For the past 10 years, Ann has served as the Hospitality Chair of the Westwood Historical Society.
After 43 years of marriage to Jerry, Ann says with all honesty that he is her hero. Given his lifelong record of giving to others, it is easy to see why!
Ann and Jerry take great joy in their family and friends. They are the proud parents of Kathleen Cronin Allen of Mansfield, Christine Cronin Layton of Medway and David D. Cronin of Norwood. They are especially delighted to have Sophia and Amelia Allen and Colleen and Ian Layton as grandchildren. According to Ann they are her 'happiness quotient.'
Please join us in celebrating the life and accomplishments of this remarkable couple.
Previous recipients of the honorary tribute are (chronologically beginning in 1990): Yetta and Alexander Fisher, Barbara and Allan Beale, Donald MacLellan, Allen Baker, Richard Youlden, Ellie and Roy London, Lillian Perkins, Robert Wood, Gordon Youlden, Tom Dunn, Joseph Weider, Emlen and Jim Wheeler, Duncan and Ellen McFarland, Shirley Howard, Joy & Joe Clancy and Ralph and Irene Buonopane, Barbara Friedman, Mike Beaumont, Joan Swann, Lura & Pierre Provost, Russ and Marilyn Downs.
If you would like to nominate someone, please write a brief letter outlining how the nominee has contributed to the Westwood community and mail it to the Westwood Historical Society , 830 High Street, P.O. Box 2575, Westwood MA 02090 no later than October 16th, 2010.
