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Race Committee Honors 3 Volunteers

It takes the efforts of many dedicated, hard-working volunteers to put on a race like the Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day 5K Race, and they generally are the unseen and unheard heroes of the race. Every year, the Race Committee recognizes some of these unsung heroes for all they do to make the race a success. Click on any of the pictures above to learn more about this year's distinguished trio of volunteers.

Vera Gaetano

Vera has been the key assistant to her husband Glenn, the Race Director, since plans were first hatchd to have a race in 2002. She helps at home with computer work, making signs, thank you certificates, and the countless administrative tasks that need to be addressed.  She is there all year and especially so the final week when a hundred things happen, some unexpected.

Gaetano said, " I am most thankful that Vera has given me the time to work the race. She devotes many hours in helping throughout the year, and then the final week is a great help with registration, pick-up and last day events.  She is the one who provides the great raffle every year.  I am fortunate to have her as my spouse and assistant, and the 5K is fortunate to have such a dedicated, organized person."

A native of Bergen, NY, Vera joined the US navy and spent 4 yrs active duty and 16 in the Naval Reserve before retiring as a Chief petty Officer Hospital Corpsman.  Most noteworthy is that Vera was part of the first group of female sailors to be stationed on a US ship home ported outside the US.  This was the USS Puget Sound AD-38, flagship for the 6th Fleet Admiral in Gata, Italy, in 1981.  She was also stationed in California, Virginia and North Carolina, often working with the Marines as a Naval Corpsman.

A graduate of the University of Vermont, Vera is a Consumer Science Teacher at Shelton
High School and has two children, Tyler, 16, and Emily 13.  When not preparing for the race and taking care of her garden and 4 cats and dog Daisy, Vera loves to ski, visit the ocean and ethnic restaurants.

Janet Brolet

The 5K had another great volunteer join us in 2003 when Sandi Aurilio asked her good friend Janet Brolet to help her with registration.  Janet, an Executive Assistant at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics in Brookfield the past 8 yrs and a resident of Newtown, has been an enthusiastic, professional help to the race in many areas: registration, packet pickup and the new chip department.

Gaetano said that " the 5K is known for its volunteers and Janet personifies the spirit of the race and community.  She is an unsung volunteer.  We all thank her and it must be noted that with the snow of 3 years ago and heavy fog of last year, Janet made it to the Market at 6AM each morning.   She won the "longest distance travelled" by a volunteer.

Born in Carbondale, Pa, she moved around  as her dad was an aerospace engineer.  Pompton Plains, NJ, Monroe, Ct, and Boca Raton, Fl are  her past homes with Newton being home the past 24 yrs.  She actually met her husband, who has passed away, in Connecticut.

Janet is thrilled to have her children, Kim 32 in West Haven, and Jason 30 and Emily 24 in Newtown nearby and looks forward to a great Thanksgiving dinner with them. We thank all 3 for letting us have Janet for the race.

Judy Fenyo

Judy Fenyo has ben the Chief Financial Officer for the race committee for the past 6 yrs. She has managed our money and given us the great news each year as to the thousands of dollars raised for the Boys and Girls Club.  She coordinates all application information and is a big help the day of the race.  She has also been a great help in getting race sponsors and raffle prizes.

A native of Romania with parents of Hungarian heritage, Judy came to the US and Queens, NY in 1972.  She then lived in Norwalk before moving to Shelton. She has been employed at the Boys and Girls Club since 2003.

Gaetano said. " Judy gave the 5K a great boost when she joined us as the CFO in 2003. It is a treat having such a professional taking care of the financial side of the race. She has also been a great asset to our registration process and a personal help to me. We appreciate her many hours and support."

Judy has two daughters, Christine, a recent Univerty of New Haven graduate, who lives in Shelton and Jo-Ann, who lives in Arizona. If Judy is not in Shelton you might find her visiting her precious grandchildren in Arizona, Grace 7 and Michael 3.  Her husband Bob is employed by Amtrak.


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