Spotlight: Henrietta Horvay

This month our SPOTLIGHT is on a long time resident and well known figure to many in Goshen, Henrietta Horvay.   Henrietta has been a prominent figure and voice in Goshen town government and charitable organizations for most of her life.  And if you think that at the age of 80 something, she is finished with these things, you don’t know Henrietta.  This is her story.

Born in 1939,  she lived through the effects of the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other major events.  Women, for the most part, were not able to participate in any employment beyond housework and work in the home during her growing up years.  Her immigrant parents, however, had different expectations for their children.

Henrietta tells us, “ My father came over here from Italy at the age of nine in 1915 where he resided in Waterbury.”  Both Henrietta’s father and mother graduated from High School there.  Subsequently, her father worked his way through college graduating with a degree in electrical engineering in Chicago. During his stay he lived through the drama by such notables as Elliot Ness, Al Capone and the associated instances of corruption and violence.   One can only imagine some of the stories told around the dinner table in their home.

During Henrietta’s youth, her parents showed their children, by example, the importance of giving back to their community by volunteering; giving their time and energy to help make their community a better place.  When asked if there was an event that stood out in her memory about her parents. There was a time in Waterbury when she was young, that a severe Nor’easter descended upon the town.   Her parents were some of the lucky few who had their own well.  Many of the other townspeople lost their water due to contamination or other inaccessibility problems.  So Her mother and father opened their hearts and even more importantly, their well to anyone in town who needed it.  They belonged to many organizations who gave to others.  And when they were at those meetings, both she and her brother were cared for by neighbors and close friends.  That was a different time.   

Henrietta came to Goshen in 1974 after marrying her husband, Walter.  After their honeymoon they moved to Walter’s home in Torrington, CT and made plans to build their own home in Goshen.  They purchased land around the corner from where Walter’s parents lived and built their house themselves in eight short months.   This house, designed by Henrietta, was well built.  Max Tagen, the building inspector at that time, was integral in that result. 

By profession, Walter and Henrietta were accountants.  At a time when women did not enter college often, Henrietta graduated with a degree in accounting from Bentley School of Accounting and Finance (now called Bentley University in MA.) They met at a meeting of the Bentley College alumni association.  Walter was President, she was secretary.  Walter was 7 years older than she.   They were married for 47 years.  Walter passed away on July 17, 2021 after struggling with long term health issues.  Henrietta still keeps the house the same as it always had been to keep Walter “with her” throughout her day.

When Henrietta and Walter moved to Goshen there were a little over 840 people in Goshen.  Party affiliation was not important.  Henrietta was a registered Democrat; Walter was a Republican.  Volunteerism was the characteristic that defined those who served in Town Government, Church work, etc.  Now there are over 3200 living in Goshen.  A lot more who can volunteer to help with these honorable tasks.  In keeping with the example her parents set, Henrietta has devoted her time and life to serving the people of Goshen. 

With all the political offices in which she has served and the non-profit ones in which she has worked, she was asked what she would tell others about her philosophy and her hopes:

“ … to me people have to cooperate with each other.  You need to understand… politics is politics, but you still need to work together.  I get very annoyed when people say  “oh, I’m a Democrat, or I’m a Republican.” For Henrietta, those things are superficial and meaningless, if you can’t get anything accomplished.

It goes without saying, that Goshen has benefitted from her knowledge, her organizational skills, her volunteerism and her full heart.  We are lucky to have her.  She embodies the spirit of volunteerism.   She continues:

“ It’s important to do one job and do it well, rather than spread yourself thin and do poorly, “ says Henrietta.  “There are those who just want the recognition without the work.  Then they leave.  Get in there and love what you do, and do it well.  Work with others and get to know your fellow Goshenites.”

We couldn’t have said it better, Henrietta.  Our salute to a patriotic and generous Goshenite.