2010 Pittsfield Citizen Of The Year
Pauline Wheeler
Pauline Wheeler is the 2010 Pittsfield Citizen of the Year. Pauline has been
a valuable part of the Pittsfield Community for many, many years and has
volunteered in countless organizations and community projects. Pauline has
been active in 4-H for over 45 years. She currently teaches and has taught
for many years, food/cooking, sewing and crafts to young 4-Hers. She has
always had children at her home working on their many projects, such as
getting ready for 4-H Dress Review, where each child has to sew some type of
clothing and model their work before judges; and assisting children with
working on the presentations for 4-H Demonstration whereby each 4-Her has to
demonstrate some type of food preparation in front of judges. She not
only assists these children in the preparation process but also guides them
in showing self-confidence and speaking before a panel of judges. Pauline
has been responsible for shaping countless young people into believing in
what they are presenting, as well as encouraging them to try harder each
year to accomplish even higher goals. She is a member of the Merrimack
County Leaders Association and an organizing member of the 4-H Northeast
Leaders Forum.
Pauline has been a member of the Amoma/Golden Rule Circle of the
Pittsfield Baptist Church for decades. Although this organization has lost
membership through the years, as is evident in most organizations today,
Pauline continues to organize, prepare and deliver monthly remembrances to
shut ins in Pittsfield and surrounding area nursing homes. Pauline can be
seen at church for Sunday morning services and she spends her Sunday
afternoons visiting and bringing goodies to individuals who look forward to
her visits where she can fill them in on what is happening in the community
and uses this time as an outreach for these individuals who are no longer
living independently. Pauline can also be found in the kitchen at the church
for almost any gathering whether it be Easter breakfast or preparing food
for a wedding or a funeral or some other memorable church family event.
Pauline is also active in other activities at the church and is a former
Sunday School teacher.
Pauline has been a member of South Pittsfield Community Club for over 50
years. She is currently the Treasurer and she has held that position for 25
years. She can be seen, in the kitchen at all the South Pittsfield Community
Club Ham and Bean Suppers on Saturday evenings during the spring and summer.
One of her many duties is baking the beans, and anyone who has ever attended
one of these suppers knows how delicious they are. Pauline is always in the
kitchen making sure that everything is running smoothly, and now that a new
generation is assuming the responsibility, she is there guiding them so that
this wonderful New England tradition will carry on if she is no longer able
to bake those beans. These bean suppers are famous throughout the area and
people travel for miles to partake of these delicious meals.
Pauline is caretaker and liaison to the Quakers regarding church matters
of the Quaker Church in South Pittsfield for many decades. She organizes and
attends summer services at the church. If you have ever attended one of
these where Pauline is present, you can see the pride she shows when she
greets each attendee, makes them feel at home and when the service is over
makes sure that the building is locked and everything is in its place.
Pauline is an active member of the Circle of Home and Family Group and
works on many fundraising projects. One such project is the balloon quilts
that are raffled off every year at the Annual Pittsfield Balloon Rally. Each
member of the group makes a quilt square and when they are completed someone
in the group sews the donated squares together to make a unique quilt
available for the fundraising raffle, which beings in funds for various
Pittsfield community outreached projects. This group meets monthly and is
but one more opportunity for individuals to participate and pass on
traditions and ideas for the next generation of Pittsfield residents.
Pauline was a former volunteer at the Pittsfield schools and former
member of the Pittsfield Booster Club while her children were in school. She
is now attending various school activities for her grandchildren.
As you can see Pauline is and has been a very valuable member of the
Pittsfield community. We have mentioned many activities and organizations
that Pauline has been active in but we also know there have been many more
since Pauline always works in the background. She quietly goes to work and
makes sure everything is organized. She has accomplished all of these great
deeds while raising eight children. When asked, she always finds time to
bake something or offer her support to any projects that may be ongoing. She
always does this with a smile and has kind words for those trying to make
Pittsfield a wonderful place to live and play. You may not see Pauline with
a shovel at ground breaking ceremonies, but she will be there with the
cookies and punch! Thanks, Pauline!