Carolyn Downing

Occupation: Prior to retirement, I worked in different places. I was a part-time secretary at the Middle School for four years. When I was married, I was a secretary at MIT. I also worked for a local developer and in personnel and public relations at Stamford Hospital. I graduated from secretarial school in Boston, Mass.

How Long in Newtown: I will have lived in Newtown 36 years in June. Prior to that, we lived in Norwalk for seven years and Stamford for seven years. I was born in Lynn, Mass., and grew up in Nahant, Mass. It was a wonderful place to grow up. It was surrounded by beaches.

Biggest Change Seen in Town: Newtown was a small town when we moved in, with small shops, such as Borodenko’s Market. We knew almost everyone. Now it’s an upscale, suburban community.

Family: My husband, Bill, and I have been married for 50 years. We have two children. Katie lives in Ames, Iowa. Her husband, John Jackman, is a professor at Iowa State University. They have five children, Nate, 23, who graduated from the University of Iowa and works in Chicago; Brenda, 20, who is a junior in interior design at Ohio State; Laura, 18, who is a junior at Iowa State in speech and communications; Phil, 14, who is in eighth grade; and Natalie, 7, who is being home schooled. Katie has home schooled all the girls. Our son, Bill, is a sales representative. He and his wife, Heather, live in Reading, Mass. They have two children, Andrew, 5, and Willy, 3½.

Pets: Chip, the cat, who is 18½ years olds. He was the king of Newtown cats three years ago.

Hobbies: I am a crossword puzzle addict. I do the New York Times one every day. I like to walk – I don’t power walk – my husband and I stroll. In the summer, we sail and swim if the water’s warm. I like to communicate with friends and family with letters and the telephone.

Favorite Books and Authors: I’m a bookaholic. I read voraciously. I am very eclectic. I recently read Angela’s Ashes. I also enjoy books by P.D. James, such as A Certain Justice. I like British mysteries, and Jan Koran’s gentle novels about a town in North Carolina called Mitford.

Favorite TV Show: Jeopardy, Antiques Road Show, and Masterpiece Theater.

Organizations: I am a justice of the peace in Newtown. I also am a member of  SNAN (Spay Neuter Association of Newtown), and do its newsletter. I like to write. We are also members of the Newtown Historical Society and the Society of the Hawley Family. I was a volunteer with Danbury Hospital’s book cart for 17 years. I have also worked with the Cancer Society’s Reach for Recovery program. Years ago I was also involved with the Girl Scouts, Republican Town Committee, Visiting Nurse Association Board of Directors, and was a charter member of the Newtown Women’s Club. My husband and I have always been involved in Newtown.

Most Vivid Memory of Newtown: The Bicentennial and the ringing of bells in the Meeting House. What a glorious day it was. We had a Bicentennial dance in period costume at the High School, and that was wonderful.

Favorite Vacation Spot: I like to travel. We want to go back to England on the Queen Elizabeth II. We go to Great Bay in New Hampshire in the summer and to Ozona, Fla., on the Gulf coast in the winter. You can look out on the Gulf and see the osprey and egrets, and watch the dolphins frolicking.

Personal Philosophy: I have always been somewhat impatient and a worrywart. I am learning to let go and let God. I think God watches over us and eventually things straighten out. I heard on the radio years ago about the 100 happiest people in the United States. Among them was one that was a millionaire and another who lived in a shack. Both were happy with who they were, where they were, and what they had. If you’re not happy with who you are, you won’t be happy. If you’re not happy where you are, would you be happy somewhere else? If you’re not happy with what you have, would you be happy if you had more?