East Lyme — After 27 years at Town Hall serving seven town administrations, Darlene Stevens, executive assistant to the first selectman and the town's "chief of staff," has retired.

"Darlene was the face of the town, the go to girl," said former town clerk Esther Williams, while presenting a plaque to Stevens at her retirement party Friday at Town Hall.

First Selectman Mark Nickerson said Stevens was not just a witness to the town's progress over three decades, but was integral to its success.

"She was the town's chief of staff," he said. "She was the glue. As leadership came and went, she was the constant."

Stevens was hired 27 years ago by former First Selectman Dennis J. Murphy Jr. as a receptionist. She served as an assistant to former First Selectmen David L. Cini; Rose Ann Hardy, who served in an interim capacity; Wayne Fraser; Beth Hogan; Paul Formica and Nickerson.

Stevens had worked as a flight attendant before moving to East Lyme with her husband, Ronald Stevens, who joined a law practice on Main Street in Niantic. She worked as a health aide for East Lyme Schools for nine years, prior to her career at Town Hall.

Stevens grew up surrounded by local government, as her father, Edmund Caplicki, was mayor of Goshen, N.Y. She was raised with four brothers and her mother, Pauline, was the head cook for the high school. 

Stevens said in an interview that she has enjoyed getting to know people in her job as executive assistant. She listened and acted as a "sounding board" for residents coming into Town Hall and knew when someone in the community just had a grandchild or was ill and might need a card.

"You get to know a lot more about people," said Stevens. "It's like you're part of a deeper world."

Over the years, Stevens saw technology and the town change. When she started the job, she used a mimeograph machine, electric typewriter and big black book of calendars. The town was also smaller then and has now grown to about 18,000 residents year-round and double that in the summer months.

After seven town administrations, Stevens knows the history of East Lyme and can easily share with the first selectman how former first selectmen approached an issue or know why the town charter is written in such a way.

"It's always nice to have the background before you make a decision," she said.

Stevens and her husband raised three children in town and now have seven grandchildren.

Brooke Stevens, Stevens' daughter who works at Town Hall in the finance and accounts payable department, said in a phone interview that she has learned from her mother to be a hard worker and care about her work.

Brooke said that while she was growing up the family had a hobby farm on Quarry Dock Road with sheep, goats, chickens, and pheasants. She recalled how her mother had loaded up lambs from the farm in the Jeep to bring them to kindergarten class for show and tell.

"She's just very generous with her time and with her heart," Brooke said.

Sandra Anderson, a resident with three children who has worked at Pfizer and as the minutes clerk for the Montville Town Council, will be the new executive assistant. She said she loves the community and is excited for the opportunity.

Stevens said she is looking forward to spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, and would also eventually like to do some kind of work in her retirement.

At Stevens' retirement party on Friday, about 40 of her friends, family, and colleagues gathered to wish her well. She received such gifts as a lifetime beach pass and a street sign in her name.

She said Friday that her retirement was "bittersweet."

"A lot of people have been very kind to me over the years," she said.

Former First Selectwoman Hogan said by phone that Stevens "was always professional and loyal to whoever occupied the first selectman's office. She's just a wonderful individual to assist any first selectman through the years for the town of East Lyme." 

"I don’t think there is a kinder person that I have met," state Sen. Formica, R-East Lyme, and former town first selectman, said in a phone interview. "She is a wonderful family person and she is a dedicated town employee." 

"She came in early every day and she stayed late," Formica added. "She knew everything about everything in there. She was pleasant and happy and respectful to everybody she worked with and everybody she came in contact with."

k.drelich@theday.com