By Sarah Moskowitz
Village board members expressed their admiration for her dedication last Monday night and commended her for a job well done.
"It's amazing what she has done for this village," said Mayor Charles Formont. "She has been my right and left hand. She's just been outstanding. I thank her for all that she's done."
Torborg announced her retirement in September and was officially granted leave this month. Two people will be replacing her. William Long has filled the position of village clerk-treasurer, and the new deputy village clerk is Doris Piedimonte. Both were sworn in at the meeting.
Torborg is a lifelong resident of East Rockaway but will be moving to Arizona in late January. Her move will not be to unfamiliar territory. Torborg knows the area well and visits her family there frequently. She decided on the Grand Canyon State not only to be close to kin, but also for the warm weather.
Torborg said she has no long-term plans yet, and for the first several months she'll concentrate on finding a place of her own in the Tucson-Sierra Vista area while staying with relatives. After a few months, she said, she may consider searching for a job. "I don't know that I want to work again," she said. "If I do it will just be part-time and not a career."
As village clerk-treasurer, Torborg was in charge of village funds, accounts, budgets, taxes and payroll. She also served as secretary to the mayor and the board and handled village records, and assisted with various other aspects of village management. With her extensive list of duties, she became the eyes and ears of all the village departments and their affairs.
"Any operation of the village, I was involved," Torborg said. "I didn't oversee what they did, but I always knew what was going on."
Torborg's job often resulted in her working overtime, sometimes into double shifts and even seven days a week during the more hectic times of year, like tax roll and budget time. Her devotion did not go unnoticed by those who worked closely with her.
"Sandy performed her duties in an extremely courteous and professional manner," said Deputy Mayor Joseph Carrigan. "She will be missed."
Torborg was hired in December 1977 as secretary to the superintendent of public works. East Rockaway Library Director Ellen Rockmuller recalled that the department head was amazed by Torborg's work ethic, and it wasn't long before she moved on to bigger things.
"She did such a good job that she was, in [the superintendent's] words, 'stolen' by the Village Hall," Rockmuller said. "It was a disappointment for him, but a boon to the Village Hall, the other village departments and the library."
In less than two years Torborg had transferred to the village clerk's office, and after a brief period as a stenographer was named the deputy village clerk in 1981. When she took on the added responsibilities of treasurer in late 1995, the role of deputy clerk was never handed over to anyone else.
Trustee Richard Meagher described Torborg as a grand person and a dedicated employee. "Sandy leads by example," he said. "She believes also in the need for lifelong learning . . . to make herself the best village clerk possible."
Torborg is leaving the village with mixed emotions. She said that leaving her coworkers is stressful because of the rapport they have developed over the years. "The people here at the Village Hall have become very close personal friends, they're not just employees," Torborg said. "I wish the mayor, the board and all the personnel well. I will certainly miss everybody, there's no question about it."
