Ms. Senior Connecticut Winner From Enfield Passes Away

ENFIELD, CT — Gertrude "Trudy" Dorous, an immigrant from war-torn Germany who became Ms. Senior Connecticut and was one of the most dedicated and beloved volunteers in Enfield for more than three decades, passed away Wednesday. She was 95.

Shortly after the end of World War II, Dorous left Munich for the United States in 1947, and eventually married Truman Dorous, an American soldier. They settled in Enfield in 1953, and Truman passed away in 1991.

Trudy worked at Hamilton Standard for 30 years, retiring in 1981. She then began working as a volunteer at the Enfield Senior Center, educating seniors about Medicare programs, a role she held for 33 years. She was also appointed as one of five members on the building committee for the new senior center on Elm Street in 2000.

"Trudy brought so much enthusiasm and zest to everything she did," former Senior Center director Susan Lather said. "She helped people with complex Medicare issues for over 30 years at the senior center. She was a strong advocate for older adults on a local and state level. She was funny and wise. What an amazing woman!"

Dorous was named Ms. Senior Connecticut in 1987, and regularly returned to the pageant to welcome newly-crowned winners. In 2009, she and five teammates from the Wii Wildcats captured the Wii bowling state championship, defeating 87 other teams at a tournament in Wallingford.

She served as a board member and treasurer of the River Valley CT Central Regional Tourism District, and also volunteered for many years with the North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, becoming the first face visitors saw upon entering the annual Home and Product Show.

"Trudy was a wonderful woman, with such style and grace," longtime Chamber of Commerce member Chris Casey said. "She was someone who has always shown such dedication to her community with her willingness to be among the first to step up and volunteer. Trudy was truly an Energizer bunny, someone I always admired."

Former Enfield mayor Scott Kaupin said, "Trudy was a tireless advocate for the senior citizens in town. She was an original member of the Mayor's Advisory Council and served on all five councils while I was mayor. Her insight on the various senior issues was invaluable to the group as a whole and to me personally. Her advice was always spot on, and I valued and respected her opinions. Trudy gave back to her community in so many ways through her extensive volunteerism. Enfield's seniors have lost a true champion with her passing."

Services will be held privately.

Trudy Dorous (left), with longtime friend Ruth Porcello (Ms. Senior Connecticut 1990), at the 2011 pageant. File photo credit: Tim Jensen

To sign up for free Enfield news alerts and more, click here.