Janice Watkins Award Winners 1991 Article

Two Rewarded for a Job Well Done by Sheila dela Cruz

"Having six kids- ages 7 to 30 - is enough incentive for me to work hard," said Thomas Brosnan, assistant chief operating engineer and 26-year UIC employee.

For all that hard work, Brosnan and the late Gloria Arndt, a clerk at the College of Medicine at Peoria, received this year's Janice Watkins Award for Distinguished Civil Service. The awards were presented by the Staff Advisory Council at a dinner in their honor last Friday. Arndt's family accepted the award in her memory.

The peer recognition award honors exceptional support staff members for outstanding service. It is a memorial to Watkins, a supervisor in the insurance office and former president o the Staff Advisory Council, who was killed in an auto accident in 1974.

Brosnan and Arndt were singled out by co-workers for their willingness to go the extra mile to help others.

Brosnan "has given freely of his time and effort in order to improve work conditions and help those who had problems involving job, health and personal matters," colleague James Torphy, who works in Physical Plant's heat, light and power department, said in nominating. Brosnan.

"Her positive and healthy attitude, coupled with a high level of professional capability and a healthy sense of humor, earned praises and friendships unparalleled by anyone among our faculty, staff and students," Richard Trumpe, assistant director of student services in Peoria, said of Arndt, who died in December of 1989.

Born in County Kerry, Ireland, Brosnan was 18 years old when he came to the United States in 1956.

"I didn't have a hard time deciding, because there was no future there. Everyone I knew picked up their stuff and left," he said.

"It was a hard transition. i literally moved a horse-and -buggy to a mechanical environment."

In 1965, he joined the U of I at its brand new, still-under-construction Chicago Circle campus.

"Everything happened at the same time. While buildings were under construction and classes were going on, we were installing the heating and lighting utilities," he said.

"The university looked like a disaster area. There was mud all over the place. Students were just as lost as we were."

In his 26 years at UIC, Brosnan has served on the University Shop Committee, Staff Advisory Council and UIC Advisory Committee. He was a representative to the State Universities Retirement System and union steward for the campus plant operating engineer. "He has shown strong character, politeness and a caring attitude as a supervisor in our department."

Chief heat, light and power engineer Jim Nix called Brosnan "an honest and dedicated university employee of the highest caliber."

"Tom's encouragement has been a great help in my efforts to upgrade the morale within our department," Nix added.

Colleagues of Gloria Arndt, who would have completed 20 years of university service in 1990, praised her willingness to help others with a smile.

A member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she was active on church committees and treasurer for the Village of Germantown Hills for 19 years.

Arndt was "always cheerful with a bright and bubbly laugh. Her office was a haven for any student where with a problem, just to talk, or needing a helping hand," said Zelta Joachim, administrative secretary of family practice in Peoria, in recommending her for Watkins award.

"One student remarked that if it hadn't been for Arndt, he would never have made it through med school," Joachim said.

Arndt was Peoria's convocation staff marshall for four years. Her last year at this task "was quite difficult due to her health condition, but her persistence never wavered and she did her usual superb job," Joachim added.

The student government in Peoria has established the Gloria Arndt Foundation Award, to be given annually to a sophomore student who demonstrates those qualities so admired in Arndt - willingness to help others, compassion and kindness.