Former Connellsville controller Jean Wrote remembered
CONNELLSVILLE — Connellsville City Council members, friends and family on Monday remembered the dedication and service of the former city controller.
Jean Wrote, 89, who served nearly two decades overseeing the spending of several city administrations, died Friday in the Latrobe Select Specialty Care Hospital.
Councilman Brad Geyer, who served with Wrote, said that she was diligent in her service to the city.
“She was always very thorough in the work she did for the city, watching every penny,” he said. “She kept on top of our city financial status and also understood the inner workings of our city government.
“The most honest quality was that Jean was never afraid to ask a question or go looking for an answer.”
A 1940 graduate of Hazelton High School in eastern Pennsylvania, Wrote continued her education at the Franklin Business School. Afterwards, she took a job with Bell of Pennsylvania/Western District, now Verizon, starting out as a switchboard operator and retiring as its director of public relations.
Her marriage to Herbert Wrote brought her to Connellsville and his interest in politics also stirred her interest.
In 1989, she was persuaded by then-city Democratic Chairwoman Joanne Miller to seek the city controller position and was elected.
She later sought a position on City Council where she served as director of accounts and finance. She again ran successfully for the city controller’s post in 2001 and 2005.
According to her daughter, Judy Keller, Wrote was the first woman to be elected to two city offices and the first to seek the mayoral office.
“She loved the community, along with her family and friends,” said Keller. “If she chose to do something, she did it to the very best of her ability.”
In 2009, Wrote choose not to seek re-election, but her constituents made her the top vote-getter in the general election. She accepted the controller’s position and served until earlier this year.
During her free time, Wrote was very active in the community and belonged to several civic organizations, and was a member of the St. John’s Evangelical Roman Catholic Church Christian Mothers.
As the city prepared for its 200th anniversary, Wrote served as a member of the bicentennial committee, and in 2009, she was the recipient of a Greater Connellsville Area Chamber of Commerce special recognition award for her community service.
“She was a people person and loved being around people,” said Keller.
Former city Councilman Bruce Jaynes said that while the two oftentimes locked horns about how tax dollars were spent, Wrote will be remembered for her service to the community.
“First and foremost my thoughts and prayers go out to her daughter and the family,” said Jaynes. “(Wrote) and I had an occasional disagreement about the city finances, but there is no question she was very dedicated to the city.”
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Vito C. Martucci Funeral Home, 123 S. First St., Connellsville.