2026 Citizens Who Care Honorees
A big thank you from the Rotary Club of Andover to Mark Spencer for his generous donation of photography for our Citizens Who Care, Educator & Student of the Year events, to Gail Ralston, Tom Adams and Sylvia Rainville for their heartfelt interviews and storytelling of our honorees' journeys and Sean Murphy of Andover TV for memorializing the evening on video.
Ralph Cornelius Bledsoe
Ralph Bledsoe loves history! Fact: he points out that in 1642 Galileo died; Sir Isaac Newton was born; and John Woodbridge IV settled Andover.
His years at Northfield Mount Hermon taught him well! It was back to NMH that he first taught for 12 years. An important sabbatical during this time saw Ralph travel to Japan to study its culture, training in four martial arts and earning his Second Degree Black Belt.
Though he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Southern California, a Master of Educational Administration from the University of Mass Amherst – and now teaches Freshman physics, Forensic Science, and chemistry at Andover High School - history is what he uses to connect people.
So while Ralph’s vocation is where it all started and where he wants the best for his students, it is his myriad of volunteer endeavors that brings our diverse community together.
Perhaps top on this list is his passion for bringing to “the four corners of Massachusetts” the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream Speech.” Ralph began this tradition in 1999 at a talent show in his alma mater, Northfield Mount Hermon. For this, in 2020 he was honored at the State House by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus with the “Black Excellence on the Hill” community service award.
He also delivers an address for the annual Juneteenth Celebration for the Town of Andover as well as for the Andover Baptist Church, where he serves as the Church Clerk. At the Church, Ralph also assists the Music Minister and is a member of the MLK Planning Committee.
His interest in history earned him a Board position with the Andover Center for History and Culture where he contributes to programming to highlight Andover’s historical and cultural identity. He works with the “North Andover Celebrates African American History Month Taskforce.”
Back at NMH Ralph is active on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Through this work, he fosters “belonging, representation and equity” that strengthens connections across diverse alumni networks. More in-town service finds Ralph at the Robb Center as Chair of the Council on Aging. Here he focuses on policies that ensure programs remain accessible and responsive to community needs.
It is clear Ralph loves his students, wanting only their best. But, as he said, he also wants the best for his Town – his little space. Thank you, Ralph, for giving your best to Andover.
Krista Brumberg-Stevens
Krista is an individual who has an eye for seeing things that need attention. Never one to turn her back on an opportunity to help, Krista has been involved with many organizations volunteering her time and energies offering to lending her helping hand.
Notable among these organizations are the Robb Senior Center, Memorial Hall Library, a Garden volunteer at Andover High School and the Town of Andover Planning Department. Krista offers a hand helping in ways that elude others.
Two special occurrences amplify Krista’s quiet behind-the-scenes volunteering. A friend noted that:
“One morning I was walking along Punchard Avenue and came upon Krista and a friend toting handfuls of large garbage bags and trash picker devices. I know Krista so I asked what they were doing. She said that she hates to see downtown litter, so as I do a walk-about I also pick up trash on a regular basis.”
Krista knows that the Town DPW, try though they may, cannot get to everything! Krista comes to their rescue cleaning up the mess.
The second case in point occurred when the Town did a gift card giveaway and ran out of cards. “So, we had to order more gift cards and then organize the lists that were collected. Krista was on the list and out-the-blue volunteered to help build a database in alpha order with all the shoppers’ information.
Without hesitation, Krista volunteered – it was no problem at all. Krista invested 20 hours creating a program that allowed the names to be properly sorted. “Krista was a life saver!”
Krista is always ready, willing and able to leap into the fray jump in and help at different special events throughout town. There is always time to help.
Since 1996, Citizens Who Care has honored outstanding volunteers — people whose contributions make a profound difference in our town’s quality of life - and inspire others to volunteer and help make our community one that truly cares about its residents in need.
Krista’s commitment to quietly offering her helping hand, again and again, serves as an example for us all. Krista exemplifies the kind of citizen we can all be - a Citizen Who Cares!
Jan Holden
For Jan Holden, her life’s mission is clear and focused; her learning and collaboration are “faith-based.”
As in the Bible passage she shared as her “favorite,” Micah 6:8 calls believers to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Jan’s gift to her community demonstrates that how she brings people together in her work is “greater than anything she could do on her own.”
As a life-long Andover resident and for many years a Licensed Nutritionist, early on Jan was interested in how food is related to health. At Tufts, she was awarded a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition. She was named the City of Cambridge Employee of the Year for her outpatient clinical practice through Cambridge Health Alliance where she cared for families from around the world.
For the past 14 years, through Jan has been teaching nutrition at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club three to four nights a week. There she shows the children how to prepare and eat nutritious – and tasty – food. She works with the Club’s Director of Program Services to combine healthy food choices with physical fitness.
In this she is supported by Boston’s Children’s Hospital and uses the hospital’s “Fit Kit” curriculum as a guideline.
At West Elementary School, Jan works as a Registered Behavior Technician supporting students with complex educational and emotional needs. She works tirelessly to promote inclusion and acceptance.
Also, as a life-long member of South Church, Jan is a founding member of the Social Justice Coalition, a group committed to building awareness and advocating for changes in the system. With the SJC, she volunteers up to 10 hours a week creating opportunities for Andover residents to work for causes including food insecurity, Juneteenth, and equity in the juvenile justice system.
For the group’s part in addressing food insecurity, Jan helped to bring to the Select Board the recognition of 5% of residents’ food insecurity needs as part of the Board’s 10-year Master Plan, and how to direct the 2022 Opioid Crisis Settlement monies back to the community through food distribution efforts. Jan also initiated a daily food rescue program at West Elementary with rescued food going to the Village Food Hub in Ballardvale.
Jan shared that she loves collaborating with people and understanding why people do what they do both for the individual and for the Common Good. She said, “I am grateful that I feel I have something to give.”
Jan’s work demonstrates this every day.
Alyssa Kelley
Alyssa was born and raised in Middleton, Massachusetts, and moved to Andover with her family in 2018. She is a graduate of Masconomet Regional High School and Saint Anselm College, where she earned her BSN in nursing.
Alyssa has worked as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital for the past 25 years and is a dedicated advocate for reducing disparities in healthcare and for promoting the safety and well-being of children.
In 2018, Alyssa founded The Caring Closet, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to supporting low-income families with babies and young children. The organization provides the essentials necessary for children to grow and thrive, including clothing, toiletries, formula, diapers, and baby gear. The Caring Closet is committed to quality and personalization, ensuring every item is thoughtfully selected to meet the specific needs of each family.
With a dedicated team of 15 volunteers, the Caring Closet assisted approximately 2,500 children in 2025, fulfilling its mission to support low-income families through strong community partnerships. The Caring Closet collaborates with twelve local organizations that provide client referrals including early intervention programs, shelters, teen parent programs, public schools, social workers, food pantries and foster families across the Merrimack Valley.
Alyssa is passionate about connecting people and inspiring community involvement through service. She finds the greatest joy in bringing individuals together to make a positive impact. Through her efforts with The Caring Closet, she has built a strong network of support, with nearly 3,000 followers on the organization’s Facebook page.
The Caring Closet currently operates out of Alyssa’s home, but the space does not meet the growing needs of the community they serve. As demand continues to rise, the volunteer team envisions a dedicated warehouse facility- one that would allow them to expand their reach, improve organization, and continue their mission with even greater impact.
In her free time, Alyssa enjoys fostering kittens, listening to country music and spends time with her family at Lake Winnipesaukee. She is the proud mom of an amazing 15-year-old daughter.
Fighting food insecurity is a shared passion of the Kelly family, and they regularly volunteer together at local food pantries. Alyssa leads with empathy, compassion and a genuine passion for helping others. She doesn’t wait for change-she creates it. Because of her dedication, Andover and the Merrimack Valley are stronger, more connected and brighter. Her impact can be felt not just in what she has done, but in the countless others she has inspired along the way.
Kim Solt
Every community has people who quietly hold it together through kindness, energy, and generosity with impact far beyond what most ever see. In Andover, one of those people is Kim Solt.
Raised in Arlington, Kim’s path led her through roles at Raytheon and later Bolt, Beranek & Newman, where she grew from recruiter into a trusted executive assistant to the company's CTO and then president. She married her husband, Michael in 1999, and the couple chose Andover as the place to raise their family, drawn by its strong schools and sense of community.
Today, they are the proud parents of three sons, Nicholas, Riley, and Dylan, each carving out their own path supported by the steady, encouraging presence of their parents and touched by Kim's example of selfless caring.
For years, Kim has been a dependable, unassuming, familiar presence in Andover’s schools, volunteering with PTO committees at Shawsheen, West Elementary, and West Middle School. Today she continues her work as an Instructional Assistant with young children at Shawsheen Preschool. She’s known as someone who simply shows up reliably, generously, and without fanfare.
Kim’s impact can be felt from her 20 years supporting Andover youth through Andona, and 15 years with ‘The Mother Connection’ helping guide and support Andover families navigating the joys and challenges of raising children. For 13 years Kim has organized as captain a team for the ‘Step Up for Colleen’ annual 5k event, a cause Kim embraced as an opportunity to share her passion for volunteering while participating with her boys.
Kim’s compassion shines especially brightly in her commitment to cancer research. This February was her fourth year participating in the PMC Winter Cycle fundraiser, as captain helping her team raise an impressive $26,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. What makes that achievement even more remarkable is that Kim herself is currently undergoing treatment for kidney cancer. Yet even in the face of her own diagnosis, Kim continues to give, organize, encourage, and uplift those around her drawing strength not just from within, but from the act of helping others.
Anyone who knows her will say the same thing: Kim simply cares, deeply and genuinely, without seeking recognition.
In celebrating Kim, we’re reminded that the true strength of a community lies in people like her who lead with heart, uplift others, and quietly make a lasting difference in ways both big and small.
Jim Sutton
Jim was appointed Director of Memorial Hall Library in 1993, six years before he and his wife moved to Andover. He served as Director for 16 years and was inducted to The Massachusetts Library Hall of Fame for his professional work as a career librarian and the substantial and sustained contributions to advance the mission of Massachusetts libraries.
In addition, following his retirement in 2009, the Andover Chamber of Commerce recognized his outstanding contributions with their Community Service Award.
After his retirement from Town he continued to serve the Andover Community in a number of volunteer capacities. Jim was elected as a Trustee of the Punchard Free School and served for from 2012 to 2017. Jim was their Treasurer and served on the Investment Committee.
In 2015 he became a Trustee of The Andover Village Improvement Society where he continues in that position. He has taken on the role of the Membership Chair and is responsible for AVIS town-wide mailings as well as other duties. Importantly, too, Jim provides the Trustees with wisdom, common sense, and sound judgement.
At Andover High School, Jim has served as a mentor to students in Melanie Carter’s environmental science and sustainability class.
Jim served our Town as a member of the Poet Laureate Committee from 2106 to 2023.
For several years in the early 1990s, the Suttons were an ABC (A Better Chance) host family. ABC provides under-privileged high school scholars with a supportive "home away from home." For three years, the Suttons hosted a student from Guatemala for an evening each week and one weekend each month.
The Lawrence History Center Board recruited Jim to join its board where he remained from 2012 to 2023. While on that board he served as Chair of the Collections Committee.
For three years, Jim has been the AVIS Representative to the Town’s Tree Committee.
In addition to all Jim has done locally, he is a Trustee of the Greensboro, Vermont Land Trust where he and his wife Vicky have a vacation home.
Among Jim’s fondest experiences was being a Rotarian for 30 years serving both in Natick and here in Andover. The highlights of his Andover service was serving as Club President and traveling to Venezuela, organizing medical records for the Rotaplast Cleft Palate Program.
It is nearly impossible to quantify the time Jim has dedicated to the organizations he has worked with. Jim truly exemplifies what it means to be a Citizen Who Cares.
Dave Trachtenberg
Dave Trachtenberg is an incredible asset to our community, never saying no, always ready to step up to help others.
Now living in Methuen, Dave is married to Meryl Trachtenberg and has two daughters, Leah and Brianna. Dave excelled in college graduating, with honors from THE University of Phoenix earning a B.S. degree in Business Administration.
He then began a career in the transportation industry with UPS, stretching 26-years learning the business from the ground up. Dave began as a part-time package handler and later full-time on the street as a package car driver working face-to-face with the customer delivering and picking up packages along his route. His mission was to provide excellent customer service.
And Dave did just that!
Over his career at UPS, David managed key areas of the UPS business including Engineering, Operations and Dispatch, Supply Chain Management and Logistics.
David then ventured out on his own, combining his expertise on customer service and transportation founding Trachtenberg Transportation, providing reliable transportation throughout greater Boston and New England.
David also has a great sense of responsibility to the Merrimack Valley Community working tirelessly to better our community.
Dave has spent countless hours volunteering at Temple Emanual. He led the Temple’s efforts to bring Temple Emanu-EI of Haverhill’s congregants into the Temple Emanuel of Andover when the Haverhill Temple closed. Dave is a past-President and has also held leadership roles on the Temple’s Board, Finance and Personnel committees.
Volunteering, Dave is Vice Chairman and board member for Project Home Again, a charity devoted to helping the underprivileged
The mission of Project Home Again is to furnish the homes of people in need, free of charge. Project Home Again partners with social service agencies in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts to bring new and gently used household goods, furniture and appliances to low-income families in need so they can live with comfort and dignity. The organization has a personal shopper choose items that reflect their personality and individual style. It’s what allows Project Home Again to truly turn their houses into homes.
Their work is people-focused and people-powered, and there are three groups that make the magic of Project Home Again possible — their clients, their volunteers and our donors. The volunteers make Project Home Again a welcoming place and a well-oiled machine. Project Home Again has earned a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator, the world's largest, most trusted nonprofit evaluator.
Dave defines a committed volunteer and truly a Citizen Who Cares!
Tom Urbelis
The life of Thomas J. Urbelis has been one of service to our nation and to our community. Tom served in the U. S. Air National Guard for five years.
Tom and his wife Deb raised their family here in Andover on Eastman Road.
Most people know Tom as our former Town Counsel, a role that he held for 32 years, after being appointed by Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski, offering legal guidance and support to Andover. He also served as President of the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association.
What many don't realize is that Tom has also spent decades volunteering behind the scenes, doing work that goes far beyond his job as Town Counsel.
Quietly, Tom has become a significant part of the very fabric of Andover.
One of the most meaningful ways Tom has served our community is through his role as President of the Andover Home for Aged People for the past 35 years.
Founded in 1896 to care for the “aged poor of the town,” under Tom’s leadership the foundation has provided vital funding to organizations that support Andover seniors.
Here are just a few examples:
- To Family Services of Lawrence and Andover, thanks to grants from the foundation, registered nurses provide homecare visits to seniors in Andover. In 2022 alone, 500 Andover residents received care.
- To the Robb Center (the Andover Senior Center)and the Andover Health Department, the foundation has contributed over $150,000 to expand health services including Podiatry, providing needed foot care and recreational programming for older adults.
- For the Andover Health Department, the foundation has helped fund Shingles vaccinations to protect vulnerable seniors.
- The foundation has made donations to the cardiac care unit at Lawrence General Hospital and a construction project for adult activities at the YMCA.
- In December, Tom and his Board members delivered pot pies and special holiday gift baskets to the residences of needy Andover seniors. The holiday gesture warmed the hearts of both the seniors and Tom and his Board.
- Funding was provided to the Andover Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund Committee for tax relief to vulnerable homeowners”.
Tom personally reviews and reports on every grant.
Tom’s life has indeed been one of service to our community. He is not someone who seeks attention, but his impact is undeniable.
He truly exemplifies a Citizen Who Cares.
Sandis Wright
Sandis Wright is originally from northern Maine, where he was raised in New Sweden, a small Swedish community, before attending Caribou High School. He earned a degree in Business Administration from Westbrook College (now the University of New England) in Portland, Maine. After graduating from college, Sandis remained in Portland, where he began his career with Blue Cross Blue Shield. He later relocated to Chicago to join the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Over time, Sandis developed expertise in healthcare operations and technology. He currently serves as a Director for the Federal Employee Program, where he leads delivery of high-quality data and information to stakeholders.
Sandis met his husband, Brent, shortly after college while living in Portland, Maine. After 20 years together, they were married on February 14, 2012. Brent
currently serves as Assistant Dean in the Graduate School of Education at Merrimack College.
After nearly seven years in Chicago, Sandis and Brent relocated to Atlanta. While there, their first daughter, Olivia, was born. Olivia is now sixteen and a
Junior at Andover High School.
The family later moved back to New England to be closer to family and to settle in a community with a strong public school system. This brought them to Andover, where they have lived since 2011.
Second daughter, Noelle, is now fourteen and in eighth grade. Sandis embraces all that comes with raising two teenage daughters, from school and extra-curricular activities to spending time together at their lake house in Maine.
Throughout his career and community life, Sandis has been a dedicated volunteer. Professionally, he has served as chair of Pride Employee Resource
Groups and helps coordinate Community Impact Day. Locally, he has served on the Andover Commission for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, been involved with Parent-to-Parent Andover, Destination Imagination, Parent/Teacher groups and has helped organize various community events.
Sandis also served on the Andover School Committee from 2022 to 2025. Sandis currently is Co-Chair of the governing board for A Better Chance of Andover, a community-schools program that provides academic and leadership opportunities for talented young students of color.
At the heart of his volunteer work is a belief in bringing people together who are grounded in common interests — and a genuine hope that his efforts have
helped uplift others, strengthened connections, and made Andover a better place for everyone.
Vincent Aguirre ~ Student of the Year
What kind of student is Vincent Aguirre? He said it himself: “In school, I treat my studies like a story. If you skip a chapter, you may miss valuable information. I was always that student who went back after class and asked more questions. I always wanted to know more.”
This drive to know more has brought Vincent what his School Counselor described as “an extraordinary sense of self, value system and confidence in his direction.
And for Vincent, that direction is clear and purposeful.
As a start, both of Vincent’s parents are in the medical field – his mom is a nurse practitioner, and his dad is a physician – Vincent’s life has always resonated with science. This never made English or History less important, but Science stood out. It was in 8th grade where this Science became a passion, specifically Chemistry with a focus on Pre-Med.
Here, Vincent was drawn to his dad’s physician-to-patient relationships. He saw how these professional connections often became more of a friendship; and that is what he wanted to build on.
Intuitively, he knew that he needed to be mindful of health and wellness. Vincent participated in football and baseball and would visit a local gym to work out between seasons.
As a native speaker in Spanish, in school Vincent has been given the rare opportunity to pursue independent study in this language. His skill here has led to spending many hours at Lawrence General Hospital where he translates for Spanish speaking patients. When time allows, he also works at his father’s medical practice.
Volunteer commitments have also carried Vincent throughout high school. He works with the Saint Augustine Parish on its large Thanksgiving donation drive and also puts together toiletry packages for those in need in the area as well as various church events throughout the year.
As an Executive Board member for the National Honors Society, Vincent has helped coordinate volunteer work for National Honor Society students with Lazarus House and collected donations through Healing Hearts for homeless shelters in the area.
Vincent’s philosophy is that it doesn’t take much effort to be involved; to be nice to someone; to create a bond between people. Vincent lives and breathes this example. He is an amazing young man; one who represents Andover High School to the highest degree and who one day will represent the medical community as the skilled, kind and caring physician he strives to be.
JJ Kuchan ~ Educator of the Year
Ask anyone at Andover High and they will tell you that JJ Kuchan is one of a kind. His band room is a home to his students, and his programs aim to develop not only good musicians but citizens and leaders.
JJ’s musical talents began right at home. His mom played piano and his dad, accordion. While JJ was taught piano, he wasn’t hooked until he picked up the trumpet.
When he wasn’t playing, he was listening and watching with his family – classical music, The Lawrence Welk Show and church productions. In middle school, he almost quit music until he got lucky the moment he was introduced to his high school band director, Lynn Truby.
JJ went to the College of William & Mary where he double majored in music and history. He knew he wanted to be a teacher, and combining the two just made sense.
After teaching in Colorado and Virginia, he landed at Andover High in the Fall of 2021. And with that he brought a teaching philosophy that has served him well.
Most importantly, JJ works diligently to balance inclusivity with high expectations, welcoming students of all abilities and challenging each one to take ownership of their own path. For him, music education is not confined to one class period. It lives in every rehearsal, performance and moment of mentorship before and after the school day.
These efforts have been called nothing short of transformational. JJ’s accomplishments at school have been many:
This year, the Golden Warrior Marching Band scored higher than ever before, and both Concert Band and Advanced Percussion Ensemble earned gold medals at MICCA Concert Festival. To long-standing band classes he has introduced four new curriculum programs. He expanded the jazz band program and reintroduced the winter pep band.
Outside of school, he gives back to the community in countless ways. He supports students at town events like the Santa Parade and Memorial Day, and he has introduced students to volunteering for great causes such as Lazarus House and the Alzheimer’s Walk. This spring JJ will bring his students to Washington, D.C. for the National Memorial Day Parade.
One nominator summed up the teacher who is JJ Kuchan: “He brings together passion, creativity and a real gift for bringing out the best in everyone around him. Mr. Kuchan is hands down the finest educator I have ever seen.”
To view the 2026 Citizens Who Care Gala produced by Andover TV: CLICK HERE and the Honoree's Bio's as produced by Andover TV: CLICK HERE.