Faces of Brunswick: Meet the Residents Making a Difference Every Day

Father Bob Stec

Some might say clergy members are closer to a higher power than the average Joe — and for Father Bob Stec, that’s quite literally true. Or, it was true, back in his skydiving days. 

“It gives you a bigger view,” says Stec, pastor at Saint Ambrose since 2005, who estimates he’s jumped out of at least a dozen planes. “It’s easy to get caught up in our small world, but when you see that larger view, you realize you’re part of something much bigger.”

The down-to-earth Father Bob says those high-flying adventures are behind him now as he focuses on his work close to home in Brunswick and the Saint Ambrose community. 

“We have the best people here — really wonderful, helpful, caring and thoughtful, with a strong sense of family and community,” he says.

That generosity is reflected in the volunteers who make and pack bagged lunches every week for those in need. The initiative started during the COVID pandemic, when food pantries were closed. Now, approximately 300 parish members are involved, making more than 4,000 sandwiches each week.

“It takes an army of goodness — people who make, pack and deliver the lunches,” he says. “Together it becomes something truly impactful.” 

Cindi White

There’s not a lot of sitting around for Cindi White — and that’s not just because she owns and teaches classes at Brunswick’s Jazzercize fitness studio. The retired teacher also serves as president of the Brunswick Education Foundation. 

“There are a lot of things that teachers would like to do in their classrooms, but they cost money,” White says. “We look for creative, innovative ideas and fund them.” 

One example is a new medical Spanish class at the high school. “The school district is providing the books and teacher, but we are funding her to set up a Spanish simulation class,” says White. Students hone Spanish skills through real-world emergency response dialogues and patient interviews.

White also serves as president of the Brunswick Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. Academy participants learn from officers from various departments and even see bomb-diffusing robots in action. “It’s basically a birds-eye view of all the different functions of the [Division of Police],” White explains. Graduates can join the alumni association, whose members help with jobs that free officers for patrol.

White also is active with the Brunswick Food Pantry and volunteers at Bright Beginnings Preschool and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Pat Finn

Every year on Memorial Day, Brunswick comes together to honor its fallen heroes. Many enjoy watching the parade roll down Pearl Road, but few know that behind the scenes, helping to make it all happen, is longtime Brunswick resident Pat Finn. Through the American Legion and VFW, Finn is instrumental in organizing the annual parade, along with the Veterans Day program at City Hall, a July Fourth parade float and much more. 

Finn also runs a program in Brunswick schools that teaches fifth graders about the history of the U.S. flag. “We ask them questions, get them involved and even have a Q&A session,” he says. “We go through a full funeral service, show how to fold the flag and then have the students fold one themselves.”

This work is meaningful to Finn, a veteran who served as a tank commander in the Army from 1966 to 1969. “Being involved allows me to give back and honor those who served,” he says. 

Chris Altman

When you see the military flags displayed at Brunswick City Hall, you may not realize Chris Altman helped make them possible, along with a young Eagle Scout. 

Since 2017, Altman has guided youth through the Scouting America program, first as an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 517 and then as scoutmaster of Troop 518.

More than 50 Troop 518 scouts have earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout, including one under Altman’s guidance, who spearheaded the military flag project. Currently, Altman is advising another scout on her Gold Award project to update signage to match historical records for veterans buried at Westview Cemetery. For her Silver Award, she ensured wreaths were placed at Christmas for veterans there. 

“I told her she couldn’t leave without leaving a legacy and turning it over to somebody else,” says Altman, noting that another Girl Scout has taken over the holiday wreath-laying tradition.

Altman served in the Navy from 1988 to 2012. In addition to his Scouting America involvement, he is active in the VFW honor guard and serves as VFW chaplain.