[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





             HONORING THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JODY NAZARCHYK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOE COURTNEY---

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 24, 2023

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing and 
honor the wonderful life of Waterford, Connecticut Selectwoman Jody 
Nazarchyk. Jody was a tireless public servant and community activist 
who showed unrivaled dedication to the well-being of her family and her 
town. The outpouring of praise and love for her from all corners of 
Waterford after news of her loss was a powerful statement of the impact 
she made on generations of town residents, young and old.
  Born on January 15, 1952, to Josephine and John DeAngelis, Jody grew 
up in West Hartford, Connecticut. She attended St. Timothy's grade 
school and Mount St. Joseph's Academy who imbued in her a deep 
religious faith and spirituality. I was her classmate at St. Timothy's 
and she stood out, even at a young age, as a caring, kind person who 
put others ahead of herself. Beginning with her time supporting the 
Hartford Catholic Youth Organization alongside her father, the spirit 
of volunteerism was instilled within Jody throughout her family 
upbringing. From coaching both boys' baseball and girls' cheerleading, 
to running the school newspaper and serving as president of her class 
and captain of the cheer team, her record of volunteer service started 
early and continued unabated until the end of her life.
  Early in her 20s, Jody moved to Waterford upon the completion of her 
education. There, she was closer to her extended family and, as fate 
would have it, her life soulmate, Rich Nazarchyk whom she married and 
raised four wonderful children. This move was not only a pivotal event 
for her personally, but also it turned out a decisive boon for the Town 
of Waterford.
  Jody, who came to be known as both the ``conscience of Waterford'' 
and ``Waterford's mom,'' always stood up for her community. This first 
became apparent in 1991 when she helped found the town's youth service 
bureau. In fact, advocating for the town's children was a central 
tenant to her work. In 2012, for example, when funding for freshman 
high school sports were threatened, Jody stood for her community, 
protected those programs from being cut, and ensured her town's youth 
had early access to athletic development. As a result, it was Jody who 
had sown seeds of town pride and indirectly supported Waterford gaining 
eight state championships since that year. It is no wonder that she is 
honored in the Waterford Sports Hall of Fame.
  Outside of youth athletics, Jody also recognized the importance of a 
formational education and made sure to support students in the 
classroom. For 25 years, she served as a member of the Waterford Board 
of Education, where she was a tireless advocate for the wellbeing of 
students, teachers, and parents. Her service culminated in her election 
to the position of Chair of the Board, where she was able to more 
effectively bridge the interests of students and parents alike. As a 
testament to her work, she was recognized as a Champion for Children by 
the town in 2014.
  Jody's advocacy stretched beyond Waterford's borders and was felt 
across the entire region. She was especially dedicated to serving those 
who risked the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. With this 
in mind, Jody positioned herself into an instrumental role in ensuring 
Southeast Connecticut veterans were recognized and cared for. A 
founding member of the Waterford coffee house. Jody would take care of 
local veterans--from Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners to ensuring 
they receive the appreciation they deserve.
  Jody was instrumental in shaping Waterford into the haven for 
families that it is today. She taught CCD at St. Paul's, served on the 
Southwest Elementary and Clark Lane Parent Teacher Organizations, and 
was a Little League Coach. She also helped inspire the founding of Camp 
Dash, a full day summer camp for children who have working parents. She 
was most recently elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2019, where she 
fought for the interests of her neighbors through to her final days.
  Mr. Speaker, after losing contact with Jody for decades after we went 
separate paths from St. Timothy's, it was a great joy for me to 
reconnect with her in the public affairs and events in Waterford. I 
enjoyed seeing her more recently during the veteran's coffee houses in 
town, where she, of course, helped serve breakfast, organize the room 
and schedule of activities. At its latest coffee house gathering a few 
days ago, the packed room of veterans had a solemn moment of silence in 
her honor.
  Mr. Speaker, Jody Nazarchyk will be remembered as a positive, 
irrepressible force for the Town of Waterford. Although the void left 
by her sudden passing will be impossible to fill, we can find solace in 
the fact that her legacy of compassionate, selfless service will now be 
carried on by the thousands she touched throughout her life. She is 
specifically survived by her husband of 43 years, Rick Nazarchyk; 
children, Richard, Jodie, Justin, Jamie; and their children; as well as 
her brother and sister-in-law, Jordy and Patty DeAngelis. We should all 
look to Jody's example to ensure her torch of exemplary citizenship 
does not extinguish. To this end, I ask my colleagues to join me and 
the citizens of Waterford in honoring Jody's life and work.

                          ____________________