Newton "Unsung Heroine" Honored at State House

Audrey Cooper has called Newton her home fore more than 60 years, and for 50 of those years she has worked to make that home a better place.

"Newton has been wonderful to me and I think it's a great community," Cooper said. 

Cooper was honored at the State House Wednesday as a Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) "Unsung Heroine," an award that recognizes women who "perform unheralded acts on a daily basis that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live." She was one of 100 women from across the state who received the award.

State Rep. Kay Khan (D-Newton), who nominated Cooper for the MCSW award, said Cooper is a "valuable and vital member" to the Board of Trustees at the  as well as the Board of Directors at the .

"Audrey Cooper is a tireless and remarkable advocate for so many organizations in the City of Newton," Khan said in an email sent to Patch. "Audrey's dedication and years of commitment is invaluable. She is a 'roll up you sleeves and get to work' kind of person and can often be seen in the kitchen helping with food preparation or the clearing up at numerous events that she supports throughout the city." 

"I am thrilled that Audrey's energy, her love of family, friends and community is being recognized as she joins other exceptional women from across the Commonwealth," Khan added.

In addition to her work at the library and on the NCSC Board of Directors, Cooper has also held important roles with the Newton Planning Board and the Newton Democratic City Committee.

After receiving the news, Cooper said she was both "thrilled" and surprised; over the years, Cooper said volunteering and giving back and it is something that has always played a key role in her life and her family.

"It's been a part of my life forever," Cooper said. "I've never really questioned it."

In addition to her work as a volunteer and trustee for the library and Newton Community Service Center, Cooper has also worked hard on access to services for seniors in Newton, including helping to establish the and serve on its Board of Directors.

Cooper said she attended the ceremony with her 33-year-old granddaughter, who works at the non-profit group Raising a Reader. During the ceremony, each woman was called up and introduced with her story of service. 

"It was really very inspiring," Cooper said. "It was a day I was proud to be a woman and proud to be from Massachusetts."

Rep. Ruth Balser, who attended Wednesday's ceremony, echoed Khan's praise for Cooper.

"Audrey Cooper is a wonderful person," Balser said. "She has done so much for our community."

That service will continue, Cooper said, so long as she's healthy had has a bit of energy.

"It fulfills your life -- that's the important thing," she said. 

Clarification: Cooper has spent many years on the Board of Directors for the NCSC, not as a director. She attended the ceremony with her granddaughter.