Arciero recognizes Westford resident, advocate for mental health awareness
Westford’s Sue Hanly alongside State Representative James Arciero
Story written by Stefan Geller of the Lowell Sun and published on July 11, 2021.
WESTFORD — Westford’s Sue Hanly has been selected by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as one of the Commonwealth Heroines of 2021, for her volunteerism and mental health advocacy amid the coronavirus pandemic, state Rep. James Arciero announced.
According to Arciero, Annual Commonwealth Heroine honors go to women who have been recommended by legislators from their district and selected for their contributions to their community. Those selected typically make a difference through business ventures, public service or volunteerism.
Hanly worked as contact tracer for Westford and the town of Tewksbury during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was a COVID-19 vaccinator for first responders at regional clinics.
Hanly also volunteers at the Merrimack Valley Medical Reserve Corps and the Westford Parent Connection, a nonprofit that collaborates with the Westford Public Schools, the Westford Elementary and Middle School Parent Teacher Association, the Roudenbush Community, the Westford Board of Health and the Westford Against Abusive Substances to provide networking, classes and seminars for parents looking to help their children’s mental health.
“Sue exemplifies community service and commitment,” Arciero said in a statement. “People have said that Sue has time for everyone and takes every person’s challenges to heart. She treats every child like her own and fights fiercely for what she believes in. It’s an honor to recognize her and her commitment to helping those around her.”
Hanly has also been a vocal advocate for suicide and mental health awareness for over two decades.
After receiving her nursing degree from Boston College, she worked as a visiting nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center before settling in Westford in 2000, where she became a public school nurse at the Blanchard School and later the Stony Brook School. She has also volunteered at flu clinics across Westford.
“A passionate volunteer, both during the pandemic and before, Sue has been an advocated for suicide and mental health awareness in Westford, the Greater Lowell region and during a time when mental health awareness has become vital to maintaining a healthy society,” Arciero said.
Beyond her volunteerism and mental health advocacy, Hanly has coached cross-country, been the president of Westford Youth Basketball and served on the Westford Town and School Safety Task Force.
She is also an active marathoner who has run 16 races, and has been married to her husband, Ken, for 34 years, raising four children: Steven, Caroline, Ailish and Connor.