The first female mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts died Monday at the age of 79. She’s remembered as having touched many lives through her work in education, public service and politics.In 1988 Anne Everest Wojtkowski became the first woman to lead Pittsfield as mayor, an office she held for two terms until 1992. The Pittsfield native was an engineer by trade, becoming a professor of mathematics and engineering at Berkshire Community College for 35 years along with serving on the city’s school committee. Former State Senator Andrea Nuciforo remembers his aunt as a confident and committed person.
“She came into office as mayor at a time that was very difficult for the city, but she believed in the city, she believed in the promise of the people that live here and she was confident that she could make a difference,” said Nuciforo.
Wojtkowski led efforts to renovate the Colonial Theatre, convert the Capitol Theatre to the senior center on North Street and modernize Pittsfield High School.