Occupation: I was a director of marketing for a publishing company in Norwalk for 14 years, but now I'm a full-time volunteer and president of the Animal Center, which provides rescue, adoption, and spay and neuter services for homeless cats and ki
Occupation: I was a director of marketing for a publishing company in Norwalk for 14 years, but now Iâm a full-time volunteer and president of the Animal Center, which provides rescue, adoption, and spay and neuter services for homeless cats and kittens in our community.
Family: My wonderful husband, Mark Alexander, and my sister Lisa, who lives just down the street from me.
Pets: We have seven full-figured cats. All but two of them were neighborhood strays. They are Judd, Hattie, Rooster, Hilly, Spruce, Frito, and Waffles. We lost our dog, Bailey, two years ago to cancer and I still miss her terribly. And we always have foster kittens.
How long have you lived in Newtown? Weâve been here about 8½ years. We moved here from London where my work had taken me, and Mark was working there as a lawyer. I grew up in Monroe, and when my sister told me there was a house down the street from her in Newtown, we fell in love with the property and moved in.
What do you like to do in your free time? I love to cook. Iâm vegan and we have a lot of fun in the kitchen. We also enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly in the gardens and on our bikes.
Do you have a favorite book? I was an English major, so I would say the top two contenders would be The Razorâs Edge by W. Somerset Maugham and Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov. Pale Fire is a book of literary criticism that is easy to read. The Razorâs Edge has these life lessons, and tells you that happiness doesnât have anything to do with material things.
Do you have a favorite place to visit? A friendâs three-acre garden here in town. She and her husband designed and created their gardens over the last 30 years. The love, the peace, and the inspiration you feel being in them rivals the holiest of places.
What is the best thing about Newtown? How much people care about the animals and their support of our programs. The Animal Center is a volunteer-staffed nonprofit, and weâre helping over 250 cats and kittens a year. Thatâs a lot of lives saved. We couldnât do this work without the amazing and generous support of the people of Newtown.
Who do you most admire? People who stop to help those in need, whether it is someone down on their luck, or an injured or lost animal.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you â including animals.
Do you have a guilty pleasure? Entertaining. My guests are captive to my vegan fare. Sometimes people donât understand what vegans eat and we can be very creative. So itâs a pleasure to serve a vegan meal to friends and have them enjoy it.