The Goguens: Good Neighbors Know No Borders

By Angie Orenstein

“The heart is the happiest when it beats for others.”

– God’s Little Instruction Book

Imagine taking complete strangers into your home, becoming family to them for several weeks, and helping them with all their needs. That’s what Brian and Laureen Goguen did for a woman from Belize and her threeyear-old daughter who required life saving open heart surgery at Mass General Hospital.

“This is just one example of their generosity,” said their daughter, Courtney Finn, who pointed out her parents have often hosted exchange students and other people in need. “They do everything for everybody. They really deserve this.”

When you ask Brian about his hospitality, he just shakes his head and says it was nothing. That it’s other Rotary Club members who deserve recognition and not him.

Brian, a financial advisor and CPA, is a lifelong resident of Billerica and for about 15 years has been a member of The Rotary Club. This organization sponsors numerous humanitarian projects such as Gift of Life – a program addressing the medical needs of children and, for those taking part in Gift of Life, all medical expenses are paid for by Rotary International. More of the other programs Rotary sponsors are listed on www.billericarotary.org.

The country of Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is the only Central American country where English is the official language. This, said Brian, made it easier for them to communicate. During their weeks together, Jaada and Martha became a part of the Goguen family, meeting friends, having meals together, watching television, and travelling into Boston for doctor appointments and for the surgery.

Jaada is now home in Belize with her mother, is happy, healthy and slated to live a full normal life since the hole in her heart has been repaired.

Jo Leary: Champion for Homebound Seniors

By Angie Orenstein

“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.”

– Helen Keller (1880-1968)

When Neelam Wali first met Jo Leary six years ago at the Billerica Senior Center, Jo was dressed in a lively costume, providing entertainment and making people laugh. Neelam noticed her right away.

“She made those people feel wonderful,” said Wali, owner of Printing and Graphics Services and member of many non-profit groups in town.

Leary still stops in at the senior center but she now spends more of her time visiting several homebound senior citizens in Billerica. She will drive them to medical appointments, take them shopping, bring them food, and mainly be a listening ear for elderly people who do not get out very much.

A Billerica resident for 30 years, Leary, who has a dazzling smile and elegant British accent, grew up in England where she often tagged along with her mother to visit aging friends. Her mother, recently passed away at 90 years old.

“It’s kind of a way of life, visiting elderly people,” said Leary. “It’s something you just do , like getting up and getting dressed in the morning.”

Leary said it’s vital for seniors to be able to sit and talk with someone who will listen so they can get things off their chest. Just a short visit can mean a lot, she said.

“She is very humble and does not do this for personal gain,” said Wali, who nominated Leary for The Heart of Billerica Award. “In the back of her mind always is how she can help people.”

Lisa Marie Noke-Kearney: Advocate Giving Voice to Autism

By Nora Fiore [Liana Measmer contributed to this article]

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”

– John Andrew Holmes, Jr.

To look at Lisa Marie Noke- Kearney, the first thing you notice is her welcoming smile. A smile that has been extended to numerous families who seek the very thing she lobbies for every day. Autism Advocacy.

Noke- Kearney comes to her role with a lot of experience. Mom to Ryan, an autistic eleven year old who resides in a residential school through Melmark, she has overcome numerous challenges in raising him. Autism is a disorder inhibiting a person’s ability to communicate, respond to surroundings and form relationships.

Changed forever by Autism, Noke-Kearney channeled her energies positively and got active with many organizations. Among the many hats she wears, Noke-Kearney is active in the National Alliance Autism Research Organization (NAAR), is a board member of The Special Needs Advocacy Network as well as presently working as an educational advocate.

Noke -Kearney also belongs to the Advocates for Autism of Mass. (AFAM) where she is the co-chair of the Government Affairs Committee. Here she works collaboratively in preparing for the annual “Autism Awareness Day” event, which takes place at the State House every April. Legislators come to this event and meet families who have an autistic child, learn about the challenges these families face and hear what they can do to help them.

“You never look at things the same way,” said Noke-Kearney. “If I can help someone else, it’s all I want to do.”

Noke-Kearney is happy to report that continued on page 24

Chandrakant Patel: Tax Help with a Smile

By Nora Fiore

“Do your work with your whole heart, and you will succeed - there’s so little competition.”

– Elbert Hubbard

Chandrakant Patel, according to Billerica Public Library’s Assistant Librarian Priscilla Vaughn, is one of Billerica’s unsung heroes. Patel prefers to make a difference behind the scenes and has done so since 2004 when he began volunteering in tax preparation. He has been a fixture in the Billerica Public Library five days a week from February until April, helping people prepare and file their taxes.

Patel, a native of India, came to this country with his family and was an engineer before moving here. To keep his mind active, he enrolled in a tax preparation course offered through the AARP.

“America has one of the most complicated tax codes in the world,” said Patel. “This results in many well educated people missing out on important tax credits.”

Since Patel is a volunteer, he doesn’t accept money, although once when offered to him, he asked that the person make a donation to AARP instead. It didn’t take long to understand what he did was so much more than just taxes. He has realized how happy his service makes people since completing their taxes can be a daunting task.

“One of the best responses I heard was: ‘Oh Mr. Patel, you make this so painless,’” Patel chuckled.

Vaughn described Patel as pleasant, confident and competent in what he does, calling him a ‘breath of fresh air’. She asked him why he volunteers his time and his response was simple.

“The community has given so much to me and my family,” explained Patel. “It’s time to give a little back.”

Roy and Donna Schafer: Generations of Team Spirit

By Angie Orenstein

“It is essential to our well-being, and to our lives, that we play and enjoy life. Every single day do something that makes your heart sing.”

– Marcia Wieder

Over soothing cups of hot coffee at McDonalds on a crisp Tuesday morning, Roy and Donna Schafer talk cheerfully of coaching children’s sports teams in Billerica for the past three decades.

Beginning in 1978, by coaching their sons’ Little League and basketball teams, and continuing to do the same for their grandchildren, the Schafer’s main focus now is on Billerica’s Little League Challenger Division, a program for mentally and physically disabled youth.

Jenn Bourdeau, the Schafer’s daughter who nominated them for A Heart of Billerica Award, also helps out with the Challenger teams.

“There’s no pressure, no stress and everyone hits a home run ,” said Bourdeau, about the Challenger League. “There’s more team spirit, less competition, and more hugs. People are just happy to be there.” continued on page 24

The Schafers moved to Billerica in 1969, had three children, and now nine grandchildren. Both began coaching for their kids’ teams when their oldest turned eight, and Roy also worked as a volunteer for his daughter’s school drama club. Roy took the role of coach and Donna was the assistant coach at a time when women were rarely involved with sports.

The Challenger League consists of six teams with a total of 66 players with a wide range of disabilities. They are between the ages of five to their early twenties, said Phil Doiron, Director of the Challenger Division.

Eileen and Gary Cole’s son, Brian, age 17, has Down’s Syndrome and has played on the Schafers’ team since the Challenger League began.

Colleen Sgroi: Opening Doors for Homeschooler’s Art

By Nora Fiore

“Great beauty and great riches are really of no great use; a right heart exceeds all.”

– Benjamin Franklin

Colleen Sgroi is a well known artist in the Billerica community. You encounter bits and pieces of her everywhere around town. In the library, on the front of the Enterprise Bank on Route 3A, in several businesses where her work is displayed, and in her newspaper columns. That is exactly why Jen Croce nominated her.

Croce is part of a homeschooling group that wanted their children to participate in the town wide art show. She approached Sgroi about how to achieve this since Sgroi served as a chairperson for the Billerica Arts Council.

“Colleen was the catalyst that set up the homeschoolers in the Billerica art show,” said Jen. “I was amazed at how quickly she got it done.”

Sgroi has always been generous with her art work as well, always willing to give a donation to a good cause. In the past, she has given her time working with the Billerica Historical Society and the Yankee Doodle Committee. She is wrapping up a project with the children at the Kennedy school involving 6x6 tiles. Each grade picked a positive word, then each child drew what that word meant to them. The tiles are being scanned and made into banners which will hang in the school. The children will be surrounded by their work and positive words.

“I want people to know how giving Colleen is,” said Croce. “She puts some of herself in everything she does and is truly inspirational.”