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PITTSTON — For the first time in its history, the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network will honor two women of the Greater Pittston area in conjunction with Women’s History Month, which is in March.
The two women being honored are Helen Brigido, 94, and Lucille Maziarz, 90.
Maria Caporella-Montante, chairperson for the event, said the award is being presented in memory of Mary Boylan, the first female vice-president executive director of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce who was instrumental in organizing the Women’s Network.
Montante said Brigido and Maziarz are being honored for their contributions to the community.
“They’ve been selected for their individual services,” said Montante. “We’re not picking anyone for careers. They’ve been great example for community; Helen is 94 and still working at the hardware store she runs and Lucille is big in politics.”
Lucille Maziarz
Lucille Maziarz was the first woman to serve on the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, the first woman to serve on the Duryea Borough Council and the first woman appointed to the Pittston Area School Board.
“I’ve been active politically, trying to get women into organizations,” said Maziarz. “Originally, there were no women going to political meetings.”
Maziarz did this during a time when it was unusual for a woman to get involved in politics.
She said her presence was not met with open arms.
“When I first ran for council in Duryea Borough, I was laughed at,” said Maziarz. “The men especially decided that they don’t need a woman on the council.”
Despite this, Maziarz made plenty of strides for Duryea Borough, such as acquiring money for the Crossing Towers apartment complex for senior citizens and more sewers in the borough.
“When I first came to Duryea, I lived in Pittston and we had sewers in Pittston,” said Maziarz. “I went to Duryea and the area I moved to had sewers in them, but the other wards there were no sewers. I saw this stuff coming down the streets, whatever came from the toilets, sinks, washing machines it came right down the curb. I said that we needed the sewers and I got all (these problems with people complaining) about taxes.
“People were complaining about taxes being raised and I said ‘Yeah, but do you realize what it’s doing to your children? They don’t even have a playground to go to!’ Finally, the money came and we were able to (get sewers for) the rest of the town and now we even have a beautiful playground. Before we got the sewers, I got called all kinds of names and people were saying, ‘She comes from Pittston, but she thinks she’ll rule Duryea.’”
After her tenure with Duryea council came to a close, Maziarz continued her political career by serving on the Pittston School Board, State Treasury Department and State Democratic Committee representing Luzerne County.
Outside of politics, she received an accounting degree by taking night class at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and, at one point, worked for the American Red Cross helping wounded or ill soldiers home during war time.
Maziarz eventually married Edward Maziarz, now deceased, in 1952 and the two opened a real estate and insurance business.
Maziarz said serving on the Duryea council was the most rewarding experience of her life.
Helen Brigido
Helen Brigido has been a familiar face in Pittston for along time, operating Quality Roofers, Builders and Hardware located on 76 S. Main St.
Before she made a name as a business owner, Brigido cut her teeth in customer service working as manager at Allan’s Shoe Store for 15 years when it was once owned by Ralph Brandewine.
Brigido and her late husband of 55 years, Guy, built the first drive-in theater in Pittston called the River View and also ran theaters in Exeter, Scranton and Olyphant.
Eventually, the Brigidos opened the hardware store in 1972, an idea that came from her husband running his own construction company.
“That’s why we opened the store,” she said. “We used to do business out of the house, so Guy said we should get a place in Pittston, but there wasn’t anything available. (The hardware store building) burned and it was a restaurant, so Guy was called to remodel the place and the previous owner said he was sick of the business and Guy said he’d buy the building and that he’d fix it.”
Originally the building was meant to serve as an office for Guy’s construction company, but as the building was being renovated, people were going there, asking for supplies.
“We had customers coming in (asking), ‘Do you sell paint? Do you sell this, or do you sell that?’” said Brigido. “My husband goes, ‘I think I’ll get all the stuff I need in the construction business so I don’t have to stand at a lumber company to get waited on and I’ll keep everything in the store.’ That’s how we became a hardware store.”
Customers were always loyal to her and husband.
“They used to come in here and tell me how great everything was,” said Brigido. “I had one customer come in at least once a week and she’d sit in a chair up front and every time Guy would come in and he’d jump on her lap and give her a hug and a kiss. She’d say to me ‘Your husband is crazy!’ But, he had such a good rapport with the customers and they loved him.”
Today, Brigido still runs Quality Roofers, Builders and Hardware every day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., staying on site to run the store while two other employees work for the construction aspect of the business.
Award ceremony
Both Brigido and Maziarz believe to earn the very first Distinguished Woman Award is icing on the cake.
“I’m humbled by it,” said Brigido. “I never thought I would ever get an award, that’s for sure. Never. All I know is I never missed a day’s work in all my days.”
Maziarz said her family would be the most proud of the award she’s won.
“I immediately thought of my parents and how proud they would be of me,” said Maziarz. “Neither of my parents had any schooling and I know they would be proud to see how far I’ve come.”
The women will be honored at a dinner at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 at the Fox Hill Country Club.