Judy Dube
Dedicated and reliable are two of many accolades that would describe Judy Dube, a school transportation specialist for the town for nearly forty years. She began in 1972 at Branford High School and turned a "job" into a career transporting some of our neediest students to their destinations. One sure thing in a student's day was that Mrs. Dube was coming to pick them up, and later on, bring them back home.
Upon graduating from North Haven High School, Judy was employed by United Illuminating and eventually worked in data processing. She was active in sports while in school and also while working for UI as a member of their basketball team, the Sparkettes. Through her children's participation, she has been involved with the Branford Recreation Department youth baseball leagues.
When Joe Trapasso had the insight to have girls' softball teams, Judy coached and umpired in those leagues for many years. Judy is most known for her dedication to her beloved Short Beach. She has been the unofficial "mayor" of that corner of Branford for forty years. She is the driving force behind their annual Labor Day festivities, organizing the parade and other community activities. During that time, she chronicled the comings and goings of Short Beachers in her column in the Branford Review. She has never forgotten an anniversary, a birthday or an acknowledgement of someone's accomplishment in school or on the athletic field. Along the way, she educated generations to the importance of civic involvement and the idea of community.
Perhaps her most important contribution has been to generations of Branford's school children for whom she has provided and continues to provide a steady, dependable influence in their lives. Judy's caring influence on "her" students has had a major impact on them arriving at school with a positive, ready-to-learn attitude. She "reads" her students well and regularly has served as a critical conduit to school support personnel in altering them to the needs of students that required immediate attention. The town of Branford has been fortunate to claim someone of the caliber of Judy. She has provided the essential work, despite all the variables involved with transportation, enabling our students to meet their challenges and achieve academic success. She looks forward to work every day, helping others whenever it is needed and she wouldn't have it any other way.
She has also been an active member of St. Elizabeth's Church, teaching CCD and servings as a Eucharistic Minister. In March, she was presented with a medal of appreciation from the Archdiocese of Hartford.
On the home front, Judy has been married to her husband Joe for almost fifty years. They have three children, Al, Robert and Michelle and six grandchildren. You could also include the thousands of students who have been transported on her bus over the years as members of her extended family. Judy found meaning beyond the job and enriched their lives with her kindness, sense of humor and reliable service.
Upon graduating from North Haven High School, Judy was employed by United Illuminating and eventually worked in data processing. She was active in sports while in school and also while working for UI as a member of their basketball team, the Sparkettes. Through her children's participation, she has been involved with the Branford Recreation Department youth baseball leagues.
When Joe Trapasso had the insight to have girls' softball teams, Judy coached and umpired in those leagues for many years. Judy is most known for her dedication to her beloved Short Beach. She has been the unofficial "mayor" of that corner of Branford for forty years. She is the driving force behind their annual Labor Day festivities, organizing the parade and other community activities. During that time, she chronicled the comings and goings of Short Beachers in her column in the Branford Review. She has never forgotten an anniversary, a birthday or an acknowledgement of someone's accomplishment in school or on the athletic field. Along the way, she educated generations to the importance of civic involvement and the idea of community.
Perhaps her most important contribution has been to generations of Branford's school children for whom she has provided and continues to provide a steady, dependable influence in their lives. Judy's caring influence on "her" students has had a major impact on them arriving at school with a positive, ready-to-learn attitude. She "reads" her students well and regularly has served as a critical conduit to school support personnel in altering them to the needs of students that required immediate attention. The town of Branford has been fortunate to claim someone of the caliber of Judy. She has provided the essential work, despite all the variables involved with transportation, enabling our students to meet their challenges and achieve academic success. She looks forward to work every day, helping others whenever it is needed and she wouldn't have it any other way.
She has also been an active member of St. Elizabeth's Church, teaching CCD and servings as a Eucharistic Minister. In March, she was presented with a medal of appreciation from the Archdiocese of Hartford.
On the home front, Judy has been married to her husband Joe for almost fifty years. They have three children, Al, Robert and Michelle and six grandchildren. You could also include the thousands of students who have been transported on her bus over the years as members of her extended family. Judy found meaning beyond the job and enriched their lives with her kindness, sense of humor and reliable service.