Helen Rubino-Turco Named 'Citizen of the Year'

Celebrate West Hartford coordinator and "volunteer extraordinaire" Helen Rubino-Turco was honored as "Citizen of the Year" at the West Hartford Education Association/West Hartford Administrators' Association annual Recognition Dinner Thursday night.

"Helen has always been a tireless promoter for West Hartford's citizens, especially the tiny ones who can't speak up for themselves," said science teacher Jas Singh, who presented Rubino-Turco with the award.

In addition to her work as coordinator for the annual Celebrate West Hartford event, Rubino-Turco is co-president of the PTO, and a board member for the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools. She previously chaired the board of the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools for three years, and has also been PTO president at .

Rubino-Turco has also served as president of the West Hartford Women's Soccer League, and spearheaded "Field of Dreams" which worked to raise money for the Goodrich Soccer Complex as well as the renovation of other soccer fields in West Hartford.

She is a skilled grant writer, and helped Sedgwick Middle School implement the "Shakespeare in Action" program throughout the school.

Rubino-Turco is also the mother of three teenage boys, including 8th grade twins.

Her son Gabriel, one of the twins, was quoted by Singh: "Mom, why are you in charge of everything?"