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Two Largo officers honored

 
Published April 29, 1998|Updated Sept. 13, 2005

Two Largo police officers have been honored, the city announced recently. Largo Sgt. Andy Hill is the recipient of the 1998 Victim Advocate Award. He received his award at the April 17 luncheon of the Pinellas County Victim Rights Coalition. He has worked in investigations, patrol and intelligence and the burglary and pawns division during his career. He helped to coordinate a "Spring Cleanup" effort last year that identified an elderly resident who could not afford to paint her home. Hill also helped an elderly man enter the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines when it was discovered that he was being abused.

Largo Sgt. Barry Smith has been named Largo's Officer of the Year for 1997. Smith works as a community police officer. In addition to community service and regular policing duties, Smith provides comfort to fellow officers in crises and serves as a mentor to younger officers.

In other police news, Largo police dog Kody retired in February because of a degenerative joint disease in his right front elbow. Kody, a black and tan male German shepherd weighing 90 pounds, was born Feb. 19, 1993, in France, and came to the United States for police work. Kody began working with Largo Officer Ed Sohoski after Sohoski graduated from the Clearwater Police Department's canine patrol school.

During his career, Kody assisted the city of Largo with building searches, area searches, tracking and apprehending suspects, evidence searches, helping find missing persons and community demonstrations. Kody has been given the assignment of rest and relaxation at Sohoski's home. Sohoski has continued his career as a police dog handler with his new partner, Cubo.

Anniversaries

Valentine and Dorothy Duszynski, Safety Harbor, celebrated their 50th anniversary with a surprise party at Bon Appetit Restaurant, Dunedin. They were married April 17, 1948, at Holy Redeemer Church in Buffalo, N.Y., and have been spending winters here since 1985 from Syracuse, N.Y.

Dorothy Duszynski worked at Worthington Pump in Buffalo and is a homemaker. Valentine worked for Dunlop Rubber and Tire Co., Buffalo, and AT&T, Syracuse, N.Y. The couple are active bowlers, dancers and golfers. They enjoy gardening, reading and joking around with one another. They are members of St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Palm Harbor, and Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor. They have two children and two grandsons.

Spirit "Pete" and Delores "Dee" Bortolini, Safety Harbor, celebrated their 50th anniversary at a dinner party with friends in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Their four children from Clearwater surprised the Bortolinis by showing up to celebrate with them at the dinner party in Arizona. They were married Feb. 28, 1948, in Crown Point, Ind., and moved to Largo in 1968 from Hobart, Ind.

Pete Bortolini worked for Zack Sheet and Metal in Gary, Ind., and retired from General Electric Co. in Pinellas County. He is an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Elks. Dee Bortolini worked in the banking industry in Pinellas County. They have four children and eight grandchildren. The Bortolinis spend each winter in Lake Havasu City.

_ To submit an item to Good for You, write to Stephanie Gonzales, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756, or call 445-4176 Monday or Tuesday.

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