Local Woman Awarded "Unsung Heroine Award"

One of Westford’s unsung heroines became a little less unsung recently. 

Nancy Cook was named as one of the 100 women honored as the eighth annual “Massachusetts Unsung Heroines”, an award given earlier this month at the State House by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women to recognize local citizens throughout the Commonwealth for outstanding and underappreciated contributions to their organizations and communities.

For Cook, who is on the Westford Council on Aging, the Permanent Town Building Committee, the Westford Academy Alumni Association, the Friends of Duggin Scholarship Committee and a was once a member of the town’s DARE program, the award is just a side thought compared to her desire to help the community that has long helped her.

“There were a lot of years when I really needed help,” said Cook, who received help from the town when she became a widow with three children at the age of 25. “The community has done a lot for me and I just wanted to give back.”

Still, the fact that she received the award proved to be a humbling moment for someone who has given years of her life trying to help make Westford a better place without much fanfare up to this point.

“I was totally in awe of the people that were there,” said Cook. “There were people there that deserved the award much more than I did.”

Following the award, Cook is looking forward to putting together further fundraisers for the Alumni Association in September, as well as helping organize the 120th annual Almuni Banquet on June 11 at the Franco American Center.

Cook follows in the footsteps of Westford’s Glynis DeVerry, Gloria Gilbert and Catherine Ricketson, all of whom were recognized as Unsung Heroines in 2010.