Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

snapshot-Darlene-Jackson

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: Darlene Jackson

Occupation: I am retired but spend a lot of time volunteering for various

organizations.

Biggest Change in Town: I moved to Newtown on April 1, 1969. There are more

people, huge houses, less open space, and more traffic. I live off Hattertown

Road, and a lot of bikers use the road. It's too narrow and is a real hazard.

Family: I am married to Don Jackson, and we have two children. My daughter,

Amy and her husband, Robert, have a 16-month-old son, Boone, and live in

Norwalk. My son, Dale and his wife, Kathi, live in California and have two

daughters, MacKenzie, 6, and Lindsey, 2«.

Pets: I have a dog, Dulcinea, and a cat, Dugan.

Hobbies: Tennis, swimming, gardening, volunteer work. I play doubles tennis

often, two or three times a week. During the winter, I play once a week and

swim at the YMCA three times a week. I like to spend a lot of time in the

yard. I write the Newtown Tennis Association column with my tennis doubles

partner, Julie Stern. I also do public relations for the Regional Commission

on Child Care, Rights & Abuse Inc, of which I am a former president, the

Greater Danbury Coalition for a Community United, of which I am president, and

for the Congregational Church. I also do tutoring and training for Literacy

Volunteers in Danbury.

Travel: I loved Greece and the island of Santorini. It is the most beautiful

place, with blue sea and white buildings and ruins. On one of my trips I went

with my cousin to Tennessee to trace our grandparents' roots. I found all

sorts of cousins and had a wonderful time. We visited graveyards and looked at

land grants. I also went to the site of the homestead in North Carolina where

my maternal grandmother was born. It was razed recently, but there were old

pictures of it. I had Newtown artist Patricia Barkman do a watercolor of it

and its setting in the mountains.

Books: My favorite author of the moment is Pat Conroy. I am reading Accordian

Crimes by E. Annie Proulx.

Philosophy: I think family is the most important thing, a strong family and

love.