Date: Fri 13-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

spotlight-Marie-Dupree

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: MARIE DUPREE

Occupation: I am currently controller of Jane Goodall Institute. They call me

the bean counter. I've been there 3« years - I networked into it. It's a $2

million institute, and I'm the only accounting person. I also take care of

books at La Fortuna restaurant in Bethel; I close out books quarterly at

Newtown Manufacturing. I made a niche for myself between an accounting

department and a CPA. [My own business is called] MMD Accounting and Tax

Practice.

How long in Newtown: Ten years; we moved from Brookfield. I got it in my head

that I wanted to live in Newtown near a horse farm.

Family: Keith and I have been married 32 years this week. Keith was a teacher

for 28 years; he works for American Express Financial Services. He's a

Vermonter who puts up with a free-spirit wife. Our son, Jonathan, is 28 - he

travels all over the world, working for a company that works with computer

chips. Sarah, 25, is in Washington. She lives on a houseboat right now, and

works with autistic children. They're good kids. They're so good at this point

they tell us we're good parents.

Pets: An obnoxious giant Schnauzer, Farrah; a cat who has several names; three

birds - Un, Deux, Trois; and a little fat Morgan mare named Maria. I ride

English but hack - just go out and enjoy nature.

Hobbies: I listen to books on tape because I have a 45-minute commute. We play

quasi-bridge. My hobbies are accounting work and volunteer work. I am

President of Newtown Chamber of Commerce - I've been on the chamber for eight

years. As president of the chamber, I support Chamber of Commerce activities

and encourage networking among business people. I'm very involved with

Unitarian Universalist's Society - for the past 28 years. I'm on the

Metropolitan District Board for 51 congregations in Long Island, New York

City, a little bit of Connecticut, Westchester and two-thirds of New Jersey.

Unitarian Universalists is an interesting religion - an old, old religion....

Today Unitarian Universalists go the whole gamut - there are a lot of

religious mixed marriages.... We are very welcoming; we respect people's

religious beliefs. It's a very strong part of my background.

Organizations: Newtown Business and Professional Women, church, I used to be a

member of the Women's Center, Quota Club - we raise money for hearing

impaired. Lots of different things over the years.

View of Newtown: Newtown is an unbelievably friendly town. My husband is

president of the Lions. We're totally involved in the town in our own way. I

like the cross-section of people here.

Personal philosophy: Everybody counts; empowering people. Empowering is

different - empowering is strength you have within yourself to do things or be

yourself. Giving other people power - in a negative way - means you're a

victim. Let people be who they are. Appreciate what's around you.