To the Editor:

Michelle and I were away on vacation and unable to express our sadness on learning of the passing of our friend Julia Wasserman in time to respond to a request for comment in The Bee article. As the wonderful front page articles and editorial indicated, Julia provided decades of dedicated service to the people of Newtown in many capacities and ways too numerous for me to list. 

During my ten years as first selectman when Julia and I worked together to obtain Fairfield Hills, other state properties, and grants for our town, she never let our party affiliations get in the way of our good working and personal relationships.

Your editorial mentioned Julia’s good sense of humor which she often employed to calm me down when I was angry about something that the state had done, and she would laugh and let me tease her that her title as state representative meant that she was a representative to the State of Connecticut and not of the state. 

Michelle and I are honored to be able to call Julia a friend and we, along with everyone who knew her, were enriched by her friendship, will miss her warm, friendly smile and the contributions she made and would have continued to provide to make all of our lives better.

Respectfully,

Herb Rosenthal

70 Main Street, Newtown                    August 21, 2015