BROCKWAY: A community is often defined not by its buildings or institutions, but by the people who quietly dedicate their lives to making it better. This year, Brockway paused to recognize two such individuals, honoring Stephen Paul Zarlinski as Man of the Year and Barbara Ann Baxter as Woman of the Year, celebrating decades of leadership, volunteerism, and unwavering commitment to the town they call home.

A Superintendent Who Stayed

When Stephen Paul Zarlinski arrived in Brockway in 1983 to assume the role of superintendent, many assumed the position would be a brief stop along a longer career path. Instead, Zarlinski made Brockway his professional and personal home, ultimately becoming the longest-serving superintendent in district history.

Born July 26, 1947, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and raised in Kulpmont, Zarlinski grew up in a hardworking household. His parents, Steve and Helen Zarlinski, operated a family-owned Texaco gas station where he worked during high school. The early loss of his father during his freshman year at Bucknell University placed new responsibilities on the family, shaping Zarlinski’s sense of duty that would later define his career.

A 1965 graduate of Mount Carmel High School, Zarlinski was a standout football player before earning a full scholarship to Bucknell University, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in education in 1969. He later earned a master’s degree and principal certification from Bucknell and completed superintendent certification at Lehigh University.

Zarlinski’s career began in the classroom as a math teacher and later as a principal in Mount Carmel, where he became the youngest principal in Pennsylvania at the time. In 1983, he again made history by becoming the youngest superintendent in the state when he accepted the Brockway position.

Over 26 years as superintendent, Zarlinski — affectionately known as “Zar” — became a fixture at nearly every school function. He and his wife, Lorraine, attended every Brockway prom during his tenure, building on the four they attended together as high school students. Under his leadership, the district expanded advanced placement offerings, introduced all-day kindergarten, strengthened special education services, supported girls’ athletics, and emphasized student loan programs.

Fiscal stewardship was another hallmark of his tenure. When Zarlinski arrived, the district’s fund balance hovered just above $100,000. By the time he retired in 2009, it exceeded $1 million, achieved without tax increases and alongside stable labor relations.

Zarlinski also held a deep commitment to students with special needs and never missed a Special Olympics event during his years as superintendent.

Retirement did not end his service. He remains active in the community, assisting with local football events, serving on the chain crew, helping organize church activities, supporting youth sports initiatives, and continuing his role as Jefferson County Court Clerk and Master of the Jury — a responsibility he accepted, he says, simply because he could not say no to helping.

A Lifetime Of Quiet Service

If Zarlinski’s service was visible through leadership, Barbara Ann Baxter’s impact has been felt through decades of quiet, behind-the-scenes work that sustained Brockway’s civic and faith-based organizations.

Born Feb. 11, 1943, Baxter was raised in Brockway and has never truly left. The eldest child of Eugene and Anna Foradori, she grew up in a large family alongside five siblings and graduated from Brockway High School in 1961. Two years later, she married Victor Baxter, beginning a family that would grow to include children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren spread across several states.

After a brief period working at Brockway Glass, Baxter devoted her life to family and volunteer service — roles she embraced without pay and without seeking recognition. Family members note that she has always insisted on remaining a volunteer, declining compensation even when offered.

Her volunteer record is extensive. She is a co-founder of Baxter Ministries and Lighthouse Community Church, where her service spans more than 50 years in roles ranging from secretary and program director to teacher, coordinator, choir member, fundraiser, and organizer of community outreach efforts. She has also coordinated community bus trips and special services programs that connected residents beyond church walls.

Outside the church, Baxter has delivered Meals-on-Wheels for 55 years, served on the Salvation Army committee for 26 years, and volunteered at Highland View Health Care Facility for 45 years, where she provides music for worship services, birthdays, and special events.

In 2005, she earned a lay minister’s license, formalizing work she had long been doing quietly. Those closest to her say she prefers to redirect praise to others and is far more comfortable serving than being recognized.

A Community Says Thank You

In naming Zarlinski and Baxter as Brockway’s Man and Woman of the Year, the Brockway Citizens of the Year Committee recognized not just individual accomplishments, but a shared ethic: staying, serving, and investing in a community over a lifetime.

Both honorees exemplify the idea that leadership and service do not require attention or acclaim — only consistency, compassion, and a willingness to give back. This year, Brockway chose to pause and say thank you to two people who have spent decades saying yes to the town they love.