When my husband died suddenly at the age of 43, one of my main concerns was for our three-year-old
son Ian. Since my father, with whom I was very close, had also died suddenly just after Ian’s birth,
there were no male role models for him to connect with.
We moved to Norwalk the following year in an effort to make a new life for ourselves and become part
of a vital community. It turned out to be the best move we could have made. I learned about the
school-based Mentor Program when Ian started at Tracey School, and thought it would be great to get
him involved. There seemed to be an abundance of women volunteers, but Ian already had plenty of
women in his life. I wanted to wait for a man. Finally, when Ian was in second grade, a male mentor
became available. That mentor was Bob Davis. It was the beginning of a special relationship that has
been both consistent and influential for the past 11 years.
Bob and Ian started to meet once a week at school for lunch, and occasionally ventured out to a local
Duchess. Their relationship may have begun in grade school, but it soon progressed far beyond second
grade and the school walls. Bob, often along with his wife Agnes, attended almost every important
school function, and often invited Ian to join them at their own home. He stayed close to Ian to middle
school and stuck with him later in high school. When Ian took up the trumpet at Norwalk High, Bob was
a stalwart member of the band family, becoming a familiar face over a four-year period at just about
every indoor concert and outdoor competition. Their wonderful relationship has extended to me and
even to my mother. This past February we were all invited to the Davis’ house to celebrate the Chinese
New Year with Bob and Agnes and their family.
Ian is now in his final year of high school. I am very proud of him. He has consistently been a high
honors student and is now deciding which college he’ll attend. He tutors other children and has lots of
good friends. He recently had the opportunity to present Bob with the Mentor of the Year Award at the
25th Anniversary Celebration of the Norwalk Mentor Program. Before an audience of about 400 people,
Ian spoke from his heart about how much Bob and this program has meant to him. He believes strongly
that Bob has helped to mold him from a shy seven-year-old into the confident young man he is today.
There’s no doubt that the mentor program has had an enormous impact on Ian’s life, and on mine as
well. Ian hopes to maintain his relationship with Bob well into the future. As a parent, I know that this
program is life-changing, and I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to participate in it.
Liz Golden
February 2011