Helping those in need has been a fixture in Ann Penington’s life and has led her to be a proud member of multiple organizations dedicated to that cause, making life better for her East Haven neighbors. “Service above self” is how she simply states it.

“That’s the one thing that sticks clearly that I try to live by. There are so many others in need, and if we can help or make it a little bit better, that’s what I tend to base anything I do on,” Ann says.

Ann has been with the East Haven Rotary Club for around eight years. With its many activities, she has found it a big commitment that brings plentiful amounts of invaluable support to the community.

“There’s a lot of commitment, and I like that. Because I’m involved in so many other different things, I can give them whatever time is needed,” Ann says.

She chairs the Breakfast with Santa event, where she was the master chef of the event’s pancake supply and was involved in the recently held Easter Bunny Breakfast. Right now, the Rotary Club is preparing for the almighty Anginette Wars, where makers of the Italian-style cookie will compete for whose treat is the best out of the thousands baked.

“We have people from all over the state…it brings so many people together. Clubs from other towns and states always come,” Ann says. “You have everybody baking; it’s young and old.”

Ann says it is that belief in “service above self” that is the highest principle for the engagement of herself and other Rotarians with the community, providing help for those who are in need of it the most. She says she likes “being the voice for those” in East Haven who are less fortunate, “people that can’t help themselves or don’t know where to turn for help.” It doesn’t matter to her their background or financial situation; help is too invaluable not to offer to others.

“We’re a community of one. That’s how it should be,” Ann says.

Aside from her time with the Rotary Club, Ann has also been very active with veterans organizations. Before she joined the Rotary Club, she was on the committee for Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 484 and later joined the women’s auxiliary wing of the Harry R. Bartlett Post 89 American Legion organization. She is currently the president of the women’s auxiliary wing, whose first major event was the Light the Night memorial at the East Haven Town Beach, which brought out hundreds to remember those from East Haven who fought and fell in conflict.

“It brought so many people together. We were reading the names of people for the 300-plus on the beach—you could hear a pin drop. [The auxiliary members] each took turns reading names, and I just happened to get the listing with my family members. It was really beautiful.”

Ann’s father, who she says is her greatest inspiration, was a member of the American Legion for over 40 years. She was struck by the palpable camaraderie her father and his fellow veterans shared as a small but tight-knit group. That energy has translated into multigenerational involvement from her family.

“It’s four generations now: it’s my dad, myself, my daughter, and my granddaughters. It’s an honor to work with my dad and these gentlemen that I’ve known almost all my life,” Ann says. “I want to help the veterans stay alive today—keep their legacy alive.”

Ann understands the power that appreciation for the sacrifices all veterans have made is a deeply meaningful thing for them. But with the right words. She recalls meeting a Vietnam veteran who was in his 60s at work.

“I work at Yale University, and I see a lot of veterans come through. And the biggest thing [to say to them] is ‘welcome home.’ It’s not even ‘thank you for your service. They didn’t get that welcome. I remember this one gentleman came in; he was a Marine. He had his Marine hat on, still had the haircut. I just looked at his hat and said, ‘welcome home.’ And he actually started crying. He goes, ‘I didn’t hear that, but now hearing it years later, thank you.’”

Through her work with the Rotary and the American Legion, Ann views it as important to continue passing down the values of compassion and help for others. She tries to teach these to her grandchildren whenever she can.

“I want them to look at others who have less than them or need help and to do [serve them]—keep that going. My son’s kids…I have a five-year-old [grandchild], one that’s going to be three, and a six-month-old. And I try to keep them involved as much as I can.”