For generations, the story has remained the same.
Young people who grow up in Westport get a great education. They participate in tons of activities. They are guided by teachers, coaches, clergy and neighbors. They are nourished by the town’s strong sense of community and history.
Then they graduate from Staples High School, begin lives elsewhere, and return only for reunions, and/or visit their parents.
But for generations, there is another chapter too. Not everyone leaves.
2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore is a Staples grad.
Russ and Isabel Blair, Michael Calise, Bill Mitchell, Pete Jennings, Sam Gault, Jim Ezzes, Pete Romano, Darcy Hicks, Josh Koskoff, Jimmy Izzo, David Waldman, Andrea Moore — all are sons and daughters of this town who stayed, built careers, raised families, and continue to give back to their home town every day.
It’s not surprising that those once-and-still Westporters — whose ages range from their 50s to 90s — remain. They had reasons — like business and family — to stay.
But there is a younger cohort too that did not follow classmates and friends to Manhattan, Brooklyn, California, London, or countless other destinations.
Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabella keeps his eye on every aspect of town.
Jaime Bairaktaris
Jaime Bairaktaris works at Earthplace, volunteers with Emergency Medical Services, and runs The Westport Local Press.
Maxx Crowley joined his father and older siblings at SCA, the commercial and residential brokerage and management firm. Now he’s president of the Westport Downtown Association.
Patrick Duffy is here also, helping his father Tom and ready to take over his plumbing business.
That’s just a short list, off the top of my head. There are dozens more.
Let’s hear about them. Please click “Comments” below to give a shout-out to other never-left or came-back-to-town Westporters, of all ages.
Especially those in their 20s and 30s, who will help make “their” great town even greater, for decades to come.
(Hat tip: Karen Jennings)