When it was decided that the late David N. Theis would be memorialized with an award for outstanding service to the community, Ron Brien, a member of the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company, knew who the inaugural award should go to.
He even remembers State Rep. Livvy Floren’s words at the Glory Days Diner in Greenwich, where he asked Floren if she would accept the award.
“How could I refuse you and Glenville?” she said.
On Thursday night, Floren, a Republican who represents the 149th district, officially accepted the award for Outstanding Service to the Community at the Tamarack Country Club.
John Mastracchio, a Host Committee member of the ceremony, says Floren was the perfect person to honor.
“Dave Theis was all about community service,” Mastracchio said of the selectman, who died last December. “This is a good chance to recognize Dave’s contributions to the town and his commitment to the community. And who better to receive the first award than Livvy Floren, who is everybody’s family member.”
The event was also a fundraiser for the Glenville Volunteer Fire Department, with proceeds from the evening going towards Greenwich’s first brush truck—an extraordinary resource for backcountry fire fighters to reach the sort of brush fires that tend to occur in mid– and backcountry Greenwich.
“Even if we raise zero dollars, it’s a win, because we need to recognize somebody who puts community first.”
After working with both Theis and Floren in the Glenville community, Sandy Kornberg says they are both friends of the fire company with a focus on volunteerism.
“Dave Theis was certainly a contributor to the community of Glenville for many years, and he was also a wonderful friend of the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company,” Kornberg, president of the fire company, said. “In his honor, we decided to recognize an equally-well known recipient in Livvy Floren.”
The event drew a large crowd of elected officials, including First Selectman Peter Tesei, State Rep. Fred Camillo, State Sen. Scott Frantz, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Selectman Drew Marzullo and Selectman John Toner.
Floren reflected on what the award means to her and the place she has called home for 43 years.
“So many people here really live by the code of volunteering and giving back,” Floren said. “That’s what I think makes it special.”
In her time spent with Theis, Floren says it was his kindness and friendliness that stuck with her.
“I don’t think he ever met a stranger. He truly helped everybody.”
