From zoning to photography and everything in between

By Colleen Gundlach

Jim Hotchkiss is a person who unpretentiously goes about helping out wherever he can, but self-
effacingly says, “my wife deserves the award. She put up with all the meetings.” And meetings there
have been, for many years.
In recognition of more than 35 years of dedicated service, Hotchkiss has been named Norfolk’s Volunteer
of the Year for 2008. Beginning with his election to the Planning and Zoning Commission in the 1970’s,
he has continued a lifetime of volunteerism that included a stint on the Zoning Board of Appeals, as a
deacon and member of the Business Committee at the Church of Christ, Norfolk, and as President of the
Norfolk Center Cemetery Association for 13 years. But he didn’t stop there.
Hotchkiss earned his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification and served the Norfolk
Ambulance for many years, as well as having been treasurer of the Norfolk Fire Department and a
member of the Norfolk Lions Club. He was an integral part of the Botelle School Renovation Committee
many years ago when the school board was struggling to bring the school building into compliance with
fire codes.

Volunteer of the Year Jim Hotchkiss and some of his photographs of Norfolk.

Volunteer of the Year Jim Hotchkiss and some of his photographs of Norfolk.

A retired supervisor for the Southern New England Telephone Company where he was employed for 36
years, Hotchkiss grew up in Norfolk on a road that used to be known as Mills Street, but is now West Side
Road, until the flood of 1955 took away half of his family’s house. His father built a new home on
Lovers’ Lane, where Hotchkiss lived until his retirement. Married to the former Karen Jacobsen of
Hartland, the couple has two children, Kathy and Ronnie, and four grandchildren.
Since his retirement, Hotchkiss has continued to be an active volunteer. He drives the senior citizens’ bus
two days a week, and has been a tenant representative at Meadowbrook since moving there. He has been
a driving force in raising funds for the Meadowbrook Gazebo Fund, which he reports should be reaching
their goal very shortly.
Perhaps his most recognizable achievement in the past year can be found on the 2008 town calendars that
were sold to raise funds for the gazebo. He is the artist who photographed all of the breathtaking pictures
of Norfolk scenes that appear on the calendar. What started as a hobby, taking photographs for the Lions
Club, has grown to include a permanent exhibit of his work. The second floor hallway at Meadowbrook
is lined with beautiful photographs of Norfolk taken by Hotchkiss and donated to the senior housing
complex for the enjoyment of its residents and the community.
The Norfolk Community Service Award (Volunteer of the Year) is presented each year by the Norfolk
Republican Town Committee to an outstanding Norfolk resident who exemplifies the true meaning of
volunteerism. Past recipients have included Sid Toomey, Sandy Evans, Bob Peterson, Ted Hinman,
Barbara Tracey, Ann DeCerbo, Paul Hosch, Turi Rostad, Leo Colwell, Jr., Carl Gundlach, Marc Tonan,
Lou Barbagallo, and Jim Harrington.
Hotchkiss will be honored at a dinner on Saturday, May 10, 2008, at 6 p.m. at Botelle School. Tickets are
$8 for children and seniors and $10 for adults, and may be purchased at the door or reserved by calling
542-6054.