| JUNE 19, 1996 -- Roberta Randall Kania, a civic leader, volunteer and former historian for the Wintonbury Historical Society, was presented the Tunxis Grange 13's community citizen award Tuesday.
Alma Avery, lecturer for the grange, said Kania was chosen "for her active part in the community."
"She just does so much for the community and we appreciate people like her," Avery said Tuesday.
The award is given annually to a person who gives outstanding community service -- through a vote of the grange, which dates to 1875 in Bloomfield.
Kania said she is thrilled by the award.
"I'm so proud. I was very surprised," Kania said. "It is such an honor.'"
Kania was born in Hartford and lived in Bloomfield most of her life. She was valedictorian of Bloomfield High School's Class of 1937. She was historian more than 10 years for the Wintonbury Historical Society before stepping down in 1995.
She has been active in the restoration work on the Oliver Filley House, a stone house built in 1834 by Filley on Mountain Avenue.
Filley, a 19th century tinsmith, sold tinwear along the East Coast. Kania has been chairwoman of the building commission for the restoration of the structure.
She has volunteered for the past several years to help the elderly with their income tax returns at the Bloomfield Senior Center, and is financial secretary of First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, where she was baptized.
Kania served on the PTA and as room mother at the former Blue Hills School and was a volunteer reader to the children at the former Metacomet School Library.
Kania worked as a systems analyst at Connecticut General for about 20 years before retiring in 1982.
She and her husband, Hillerd G. Kania, retired fleet mechanic for Northeast Utillities, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August. She and her husband have four children and 11 grandchildren.
Kania also did some oral histories with residents for the 250th anniversary of the town in 1985, and wrote several historical pieces that were published in the local newspaper.
She said it's important for people to have a perspective of their historical roots.
"I think it gives you certain pride in your town. It makes people understand each other better,'' she said.
Olivia S. Guess, a senior at Bloomfield High School received the annual scholarship given by the grange. She will study music at the University of Hartford in September. |
