"Organizations are so determined to make things work in Howard County. There is a willingness to collaborate that you don't see in other counties - there are no turf issues here," she said.
Colleen Konstanzer, community outreach coodinator at Neighbor Ride, called Pittman "absolutely amazing and hands down the energy and passion behind our organization," which arranges transportation for senior citizens.
"Judy is one of our founding board members and our success is directly attributed to her determination," she said.
Pittman said her immediate plans include traveling over the summer and spending a lot of time with her two children - Holly Gillum, a clinical social worker, and Todd Pitman, a physicist - and her five grandchildren, ranging in age from 5 to 14, all of whom live in Howard County.
"I am so incredibly blessed, not only that my kids live here, but because of whom they've turned out to be," she said.
While she said she is not sure exactly what she will be doing when summer ends - she is interested in the revitalization of Oakland Mills as it turns 40 and may volunteer for ACS - Pittman said she will return to being "fully immersed" in the community come September. She will continue volunteer work with Neighbor Ride, Leadership Howard County and the Women's Giving Circle of Columbia.
"This [not knowing what lies ahead] is not really like me, as I am a real planner," she said. "But I've decided to listen and tune in to what my own instincts are telling me."
jholzberg@msn.com
