Stuart Martin Arotsky1959-2009
This is going to be tough to talk about.
Yesterday, Stu Arotsky was buried. With his passing, we lost one of the greatest forces for common decency and public service I have known in my life. While many give lip service to making City Government work for everyone, Stu, as they say, walked the walk.
It is no small accomplishment to bring together all the contentious factions of the West Haven Democrats, but Stu managed to do just that on many occasions. Although he was a fierce competitor, and doggedly loyal to his friends, Stu nonetheless had that magic something that made everyone listen.
It's common for politicians to have schools or other public buildings named for them; but Stu needs nothing so trivial. He built his own civic memorial during his life: by getting long-neglected roads repaired; by erecting noise barriers near the highway...in short, by forcing the government (as he himself once said) "to do what what it should be doing automatically".
At a time when our City, our State and our nation all need more Stu Arotsky's, we now have one less.
And I have lost a close friend.
end.
It is no small accomplishment to bring together all the contentious factions of the West Haven Democrats, but Stu managed to do just that on many occasions. Although he was a fierce competitor, and doggedly loyal to his friends, Stu nonetheless had that magic something that made everyone listen.
It's common for politicians to have schools or other public buildings named for them; but Stu needs nothing so trivial. He built his own civic memorial during his life: by getting long-neglected roads repaired; by erecting noise barriers near the highway...in short, by forcing the government (as he himself once said) "to do what what it should be doing automatically".
At a time when our City, our State and our nation all need more Stu Arotsky's, we now have one less.
And I have lost a close friend.
end.
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