The DTC and all Wilton Democrats are saddened by the passing of our good friend Louise Herot in late August.
Louise was a dedicated force for good in the Wilton community almost from the day the Herots moved here in 1956. As the Wilton Democratic Town Committee noted in bestowing our Lifetime Democrat Award upon her and her husband Fred in 2013, she was “a steady champion of open government and civic engagement” whose “life has furthered the highest ideals of democracy and fed the warm spirit of our community.”
Along with her husband, Louise changed party affiliation during the Nixon administration, and became an involved Democrat and DTC member. Before and after the switch, she was active in local civic affairs. She was author of the first Wilton Charter and served on two charter commissions. She was president of the Wilton League of Women’s Voters and one of a small number of 50-plus year members. As a Democrat she served on both the Board of Selectmen (1982-1993) and, for seven years, on the Board of Education, helping to shape the future of both the town and its highly regarded schools. She was a justice of the peace.
In her work as a mathematics teacher and Department Chair of the Math Department at Joel Barlow School in Redding, she was a strong advocate of math and science education for all. In retirement she served on the board of Wilton Library, including one term as its president.
A memorial service and reception will be held on October 15 at 4 pm at the Wilton Library.
Memorial contributions should go to the Wilton Library.
