'I never pass up opportunity to learn,' Saline Citizen of Year Says

The late Patsy Evilsizer always said, “If you want something done right, ask a busy person.”

Becky Pazkowski lives by her mother’s words.

“I believe it. Busy people find a way to get things done,” said Pazkowski, who will be honored as Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year on April 15 at the Saline Salutes Ceremony at the Ellen A. Ewing Performing Arts Center at .

If you want something done right, you’d do well to ask Pazkowski, who is as busy as they come. For her 9-to-5 job, she’s the vice president of Evangelical Homes of Michigan, where one of her main duties is fundraising for the nonprofit organization that provides health care, senior housing and community services to older adults and their extended families. Her fundraising helps keep down costs to seniors in need of the important services offered at places such as Brecon Village.

One would think, after doing such important work all day, she’d leave the office believing she’d done enough good for the day. But that’s often just the start of the day for busy Becky Pazkowski.

There are, of course, family responsibilities. Pazkowski and her husband, Paul, have two sons. Alex is a 20-year-old Washtenaw Community College student who recently earned the gold medal for welding in a national contest. Evan is a 17-year-old Saline High School student whose guitar-playing skills were recognized when he won the school’s talent show this year.

Of all of the aspects in her life, Pazkowski is most proud of her sons.

“They’re really good kids. Lots of nights, I call home and tell them I won’t be home for dinner because of a meeting or something going on, and they can handle it.” Pazkowski said. “If they weren’t such good kids, I wouldn’t be able to be as involved with so many things.”

The list of things Pazkowski is involved with is long. She’s a member of the Coalition for a Quality Community, a network of city, school, church and business leaders that aims to improve the community by using its resources wisely. She played a role in bringing the Fifth Corner teen center to fruition. She’s past president of the Saline Rotary Club. She’s been involved with the Saline Fiddlers and was behind the creation of the annual Chordial fundraiser. She’s a member of the city’s Arts & Culture Committee and helped bring the Music Under the Arch Series to life. And that’s just for starters.

Her selection as Citizen of the Year was greeted with hearty approval of city leaders.

“Becky is the consummate community volunteer,” said Mayor Gretchen Driskell. “She is always contributing her ideas and energy to activities in Saline. I think she’s a terrific choice.”

City Councilman David Rhoads, who was part of the chamber’s selection committee, agreed.

“Becky is a delightful person, is full of good ideas and is an active participant in several community organizations. I was pleased to be part of the selection committee and able to vote for her,” he said. “Becky, like so many other Saline Salutes awardees, is a graduate of the ”

Pazkowski said she experienced a “jaw-dropping” moment when she learned she was named Citizen of the Year.

“I was so surprised and so choked up," she said. "I’ve seen the list of past winners, and I can’t believe I am in a group with those people. It's a real honor.”

Pazkowski was born in Manchester to Jack and Patsy Evilsizer. Her mother passed away last summer. She has a brother, Scott, who lives in Manchester, and sister, Vicki, who lives in Saline.

Just like her parents, she attended Manchester schools from kindergarten through Grade 12, graduating in 1974. She continued her studies at Concordia College and earned a degree in health care administration. She did her graduate work at Central Michigan University, earning a master’s degree in administration.

She married Paul Pazkowski in 1992.

Always a music lover, Becky Pazkowski was a better singer than guitar player, so she accepted her friend’s gift of guitar lessons in Ann Arbor. The teacher was her future husband.

“I had four lessons to him. We began dating and got married,” Pazkowski said. “I don’t need to play guitar anymore, because I’ve got Paul.”

The couple perform in the acoustic music duo Topaz, which plays a mix of country, folk and pop standards.

Music remains a constant in her life. Her son Evan is planning to attend Ferris State University to study music industry management. While visiting campus with her son, she was struck by all of the music in the environment.

“I was so inspired that I came back determined to bring music to downtown Saline,” Pazkowski said.

So she called Nancy Byers of and connected with Karen Ragland, Cindy Czubko and Jill Durnen. They met in November. By February, they launched Music Under the Arch, a monthly arts and music series designed to bring people downtown in the winter and early spring months. March’s Music Under the Arch concert, featuring the Marcus and Joan Belgrave Jazz Ensemble, sold out and was considered a .

For Pazkowski, there have been many wild successes. And that’s one of the reasons she stays involved.

“Saline has a wonderful group of people who are inspired, energetic and smart. It seems like they’re always available and that they never say no. That makes it easy to get things done,” Pazkowski said. “You can come up with an idea, work with a group of talented people with the same goal, and then all of the sudden, you have something. It’s amazing what you can get done with an idea and some structure.”

Pazkowksi said there are many good reasons to get involved.

“For me, I never pass up an opportunity to learn. When you get involved in your community, you learn about new people and new causes. You learn about government and the structure of the city. You learn how things get done,” she said. “It’s easy to sit back and complain about things. But if you get involved, you have the opportunity to change things, to make things in your community successful and maybe to even make things sway your way if you want them to. It’s just so fulfilling.”

The Saline Salutes event will include a reception with entertainment, a strolling buffet and the awards program. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students (age 6 to 18) for reservations made by Friday. Reservations may be made by calling the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce at 734-429-4494 or by clicking here.

Also being honored are Jack Fagin and Catherine Bernard.

Fagin is the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is being honored for the annual “Fagin Challenge,” a program he inaugurated more than 20 years ago to provide area underprivileged children an opportunity for a merry Christmas.

Bernard, a senior at Saline High School, will receive the Saline Youth Council Youth of the Year Award for her volunteer service in the community, leadership roles at school and in local organizations, and her involvement in extracurricular activities.