Long-time Norfolk resident Helen Cleary died this past November, but her influence continues even after her death. In speaking to those who knew Helen well, “outspoken,” or “straight-shooter,” and “independent,” are all words that kept coming up when people attempted to summarize her character.
Norfolk’s first woman selectman, first elected in 1965, Helen expressed an interest in politics as early as when she attended Regis College in the early 1940s. During a cable TV interview with her and her long-time friend Nancy Connors, she noted that she was told ladies didn’t go into politics. Her response was, “Well, I guess I’m not a lady!” Many who knew her who would strongly disagree with that statement.
She was certainly not your typical woman, spending twenty years in the Marines, starting during WWII and remaining in the reserves after the war. “I loved the Marines,” she stated in an interview recorded six years ago. The training she received as a Marine served her well. In reflecting on the challenges of being a selectman for six years, she said, “We’re all neighbors: we have to work together.” Helen was often known to say, “There’s no need of that,” (concerning whatever problem she had focused on). She would also ask, “Why aren’t they doing something about that?” Unafraid to challenge people, to assure the law was followed, Helen emphasized the importance of fairness across the board.
While extremely well-educated, Helen never flaunted her education, preferring that she not be called “doctor” except when she was dealing with people professionally. She earned her doctorate in Public Health from Harvard and taught at UMass Medical School for fourteen years. She stressed the importance of self-care education, and the importance of encouraging people to avoid preventable illnesses. She also challenged medical students to look beyond the clinical when interviewing patients, to take the time to learn about the person.
Norfolk Selectman Jim Lehan recalled the frequent phone calls he enjoyed with Helen, up to very shortly before her death. “Helen was a special woman,” he said. “Even though she had become quite frail, even recently she was intensely alert–-she loved this town.” He continued, “Helen was articulate, astute, and she pulled back the covers, getting you to look at things differently. She often helped me come to a different conclusion, and broadened my thinking process. She always sought out better solutions. I enjoyed and appreciated these conversations. She always had a comment about what was going on in town, and was never afraid to express those opinions to me. Each talk was a cherished, logical conversation.”
If you visit Norfolk’s Town Hall you may notice several
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plaques on the wall, a “Wall of Gratitude” as Selectman Lehan described it. “We don’t often say, ‘thank you’ to the people in town who volunteer,” Selectman Lehan said. “Two years ago we created a wall of gratitude, and Helen was the first person nominated to be so honored for her volunteer service to the town.”
When participating in the Norfolk Women’s History book project in 2010 (available at the Norfolk Public Library), Helen contributed information for the book as well as pictures from her life. She served not only as a selectman; she also worked on various other town committees, but the one she was most proud of was the Charter Committee, which did its work in the 1990s. She explained that “It was a ton of work, but it brought Norfolk town government from the 1800s into the 21st century.”
One of Helen’s treasured experiences was the opportunity she had to take a cooking class with Julia Child. Helen’s cooking was well-known, but she wanted the chance to say she’d met Julia Child, and was proud of the photo of herself with the well-known chef. Even as she got older, she went to the Norfolk Senior Center and helped contribute to a meal served to those who attended. Norfolk resident Betty Lehan noted, “You’d think we were there to help her, but she ended up serving us.”
Helen’s straight-talking was legendary among those who knew her best. Her long-time friend, Norfolk resident Nancy Connors said, “Helen was quick, with a great sense of humor, but—‘don’t step on me!’” Nancy, a new resident in Norfolk when she first met Helen, recalled, “We’d just moved here and I heard that Helen was running for selectwoman. I called her up, liked what I heard, and offered to host a coffee meeting for her.”
Nancy was one who was quick to call Helen a “straight-shooter,” saying, “When she disagreed with you she let you know it. And 99% of the time, she was right!” Nancy continued, “Though she never married or had children of her own, she was always concerned about her extended family. She also loved working in her yard on Myrtle Street, and was an accomplished gardener. I felt like she’d always be around. I’d say to her, ‘God doesn’t want you—you’re too damn bossy!’ I loved her; her death is a big loss.”
A memorial service is planned at her home on May 20, 2017 at 1 p.m.
Issue Date:
January, 2017
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