Vernon's First Female Mayor Marie Herbst Passes Away

Former Vernon Mayor and state Senator Marie Herbst passed away last week.

“Marie was a dedicated public servant who amassed nearly fifty years of volunteer service to the Town of Vernon,” said Mayor Daniel Champagne. “Marie served at virtually every level of our community,” he added, “there are literally pages of town records that attest to her service.”

Herbst began volunteering in 1965 and was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission. She became the first female mayor 25 years later.

Mayor Champagne said in a prepared statement:

“she became Vernon’s first female Mayor. Over the years she also served as a long-standing member of the Town Council, as well as the Capital Improvements Committee, Board of Education, Budget Committee, Personnel sub-committee, a member of the East of the River Tourist Convention District, Flood and Erosion Control Board, the Public Safety Task Force, and a member of community groups such as the Rockville Downtown Association,
the Youth Studies and Activities Center and the Rockville Community Alliance.” Champagne added.
“As a Connecticut State Senator, she represented Vernon, in addition to the other towns she served in the 35th Senate District,” Champagne said. “No one will ever really know the countless number of hours Marie gave in service to Vernon, but I do know that her legacy will make an impact for many years to