Ms. Massachusetts Senior America PageantPRIME – September 2013Who will be chosen to reign as state queen at the Sept. 8 event?GREATER SPRINGFIELD – Eight Massachusetts women – seven from the greater Springfield area, one from eastern Massachusetts, who have reached the "Age of Elegance" will be vying for the title of Ms Massachusetts Senior America in the annual state pageant, slated this year for Sept. 8. The pageant, which is a qualifying event for the Ms. Senior America contest, will take place at 1 p.m. at Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St. Tickets are available at the door. Listed below are biographies of this year's contestants: Barbara Friend, born in Easton, Penn., resides in Northampton, Mass. In her career she has worked as a nursery school teacher, a bookseller, a scholastic aptitude test (SAT) and writing tutor, dean of admissions at Sarah Lawrence and Bennington colleges and a professional actress. She performs with the Young at Heart Chorus and is both a social activist and volunteer. Friend has worked with children affected with AIDS in Africa and served as a chaperone to 35 international students from 18 countries on a bus tour. Locally she serves as a member of the Laurel Park Association in Northampton. Among her hobbies she lists poetry writing, for which she has received prizes. She noted the opportunity to travel to Israel and perform at the U.S. Ambassador's residence as one of the most interesting events in her life. Friend is the mother of two, and grandmother to five. Sandra Grassetti has been a lifelong resident of Western Massachusetts. She was born in Pittsfield and now makes her home in Agawam, Mass. At mid-life she returned to school, earning a certificate in medical coding with honors from Springfield Technical Community College in 1997 and presently works per diem as a medical coder. She also is still employed as a nanny, and has been a computer operator. A member of the American Academy of Professional Coders, Grassetti is an avid walker and fundraiser for various medical charities, including Rays of Hope, Multiple Sclerosis, the American Heart Association and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. A fan of both baseball and hockey, she also lists sewing, knitting, cooking – as well as singing – as her hobbies. Her family includes husband Anthony, children Anna, Andrew and Allan, grandchildren Bianca, Toni, Anthony, Nicholas, Kylie and Giovanni, and great-grandson Memphis. Ethel Lee of Springfield, Mass., was born in Evergreen, Ala. Her career was in law enforcement; she served as an officer with the West Springfield Police Department for 28 years, retiring in 2003. Lee lists "meeting new people" among her favorite pastimes, along with reading, cooking, singing and travelling. Her family includes husband Wayman and children Darrell and Adriane. Jean Haley was born in Springfield, Mass., and now makes her home in the same city. A teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, she has helped students in schools in Iowa, at the Willie Ross School for the Deaf in Northampton, and in the Springfield Public School system. Her favorite pastimes include practicing yoga, volunteering at her church, going to tag sales and reading. Haley's family includes her husband Ed, a teacher at the Environmental Center for our Schools (ECOS) program at Forest Park, and children Anthony, Nick, Liz and Edward. Carolyn W. Glew is a lifelong resident of Ware, Mass. She has dedicated her career to educating young people, serving as an elementary school teacher in both the Enfield, Conn., and Ware, Mass., school systems. She has also held the position of elementary school principal in Ware. Among her top leisure-time interests, Glew lists travel, and organizing trips and events, followed closely by a love of the organ and tap and jazz-style dancing. Glew has three brothers, Mark, David and Philip, and is very close to their families. Marilyn Peskin was born in Springfield, Mass., and now makes her home in the suburb of East Longmeadow. A teacher and language arts specialist for 39 years, she was inducted into East Longmeadow's Educators Hall of Fame for her 33 years of dedication to the town's students. An animal lover, she is a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Guide Dogs for the Blind. She has served as president of the 9th Hole Golf League at Franconia Municipal Golf Course in Springfield, president of the Senior Foxes and Belles at the Springfield Jewish Community Center and is an active member of the Democratic Committee in Western Massachusetts. She enjoys travel, and counts visiting her sons in Texas, seeing Florida and touring the mansions of Newport R.I. among her favorite trips. Peskin's family includes her husband, Rob, three children and one grandchild. Beda Polanco was born in San Turco, Puerto Rico, but now makes her home in Methuen, Mass., A trained opera singer; she has performed with the Boston Opera Company, and taught both voice and Spanish at the Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., for 31 years. She is also a licensed psychotherapist. Singing has always been an important part of Polanco's life, and she continues to embrace the talent as a member of the Methuen Community Chorus. She counts the opportunity to perform before President Bush as one of the highlights of her singing career. Polanco's family includes her ex-husband, Peter, daughters Isabel and Teresa and six grandchildren– five boys and one girl. Olga Ellis was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and now makes her home in Springfield, Mass. Focusing her career on helping others, Ellis has worked as a nurse, a counselor for the Serving Health Insurance Needs of the Elderly (SHINE) program, an outreach caseworker and a smoking cessation counselor. An avid volunteer, she is a member of the Council on Aging for the city of Springfield as well as a member of the board of directors and former vice president of Greater Springfield Senior Services. She loves to travel and counts living in Europe as one of the highlights of her life. Ellis also enjoys gardening and dancing. Her family includes husband Michael, five children and two grandchildren. For more information about this year's pageant, or the Ms. Massachusetts Senior America contest in general, contact Pageant Coordinator Lorraine Gorham at 413-534-1318 or lorraines352@aol.com.  |
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