Rotary celebrates Gilleney & Kolk for service to Southborough

Above: Two Southborough community members were this year’s honorees selected by Rotary for their community service. (contributed photo L-R Herb Kolk, , and Rotary President Maryann Beauvais)

[This post is special guest contribution by the Rotary Club of Southborough.]

Each year “Celebrating Service, Celebrating Southborough” event is organized by the club to recognize people in Southborough who have provided outstanding service to the town. On December 12, with a little bit of holiday festive theme, the club recognized this year, Bridget Gilleney and Herb Kolk. They each have served the community for over 30 years and continue to do so in their special way.

It truly is an honor to celebrate such dedication and service. The values that are near and dear to our hearts and that we as a community celebrate are strong indicators of how connected we are.

Here’s a little bit about this year’s honorees.

Bridget Gilleney has worked for the Town of Southborough since 1989 starting as the Superintendent of Cemeteries. See below for a newspaper clipping of her then! During the 1990s, she had the added responsibility of managing the Town grounds and as the operations of town cemeteries changed – Bridget has spent 25+ years supporting and comforting families through difficult times. Her big heart has touched many families and she has been invited to many celebrations of life. Bridget truly embraces her ability to create a “bridge” between her and others whom she meets.

Presently, one can find Bridget at the Transfer Station every Wednesday through Saturday regardless of rain, snow or hot and humid weather. There is truly and always sincerely a smile on her face. She has helped and supported the Boy Scouts selling wreaths, Girl Scouts selling cookies, and the Rotary Club when raising funds for Ukraine and Turkey/Syria disaster relief providing much needed hand warmers. Bridget attends to the swap shop and assists every resident with recyclables getting them in the correct containers to save our town money. As Sam Stivers mentioned during the celebration – she truly is the most popular person in town.

Herb has served the Southborough community in many ways for over 30 years. A lover of basketball, Herb founded the Southborough Basketball “League” back in 1993 when the new Fay gym opened. For 30 years, Herb has sponsored two basketball nights every week (except during summer) that are open for any and all basketball enthusiasts. He has created a basketball experience that represents Herb’s values – love of basketball, sportsmanship, fairness, and fellowship with everyone who participates. He has managed the many ups and downs over the years hosting basketball at Fay, St. Mark’s, Finn, and Trottier gyms – he joined forces with Southborough Recreation Departments with participants coming from all over to play. So many players look forward to Wednesday and Sunday nights because of Herb.

Herb is also an active member of Pilgrim Church and has done much work with IT infrastructure work and supporting the Southborough food pantry. One year Herb volunteered over 700 hours to the community service endeavor. Herb is a class act and a true giver.

They are a few of Southborough’s unsung heroes. In all those years with all that time and dedication, the Rotary Club of Southborough is proud and truly honored to give the Celebrating Service awards to Herb and Bridget.

Rotary focuses on providing “Service Above Self”. Rotary Club of Southborough have continued this tradition in honoring those who have and are serving our community. Past recipients of the Rotary club’s service recognition award include Barbara Jandrue, Christopher Robins, Karen Fournier, Jeff Beane, Doreen Ferguson, John Wilson, Pam McDonald, Rick Mattioli, & Beth Melo.

Maryann Beauvais,
President
Rotary Club of Southborough.