Longtime Harford County Councilwoman Veronica “Roni” Chenowith has died, according to a colleague on the county council.
Mrs. Chenowith, who represented Fallston and Emmorton since 1994, had been battling cancer for several years.
The following information has been confirmed for Mrs. Chenowith’s services:
Visitation: Sunday March 29 and Monday March 30 from 4pm-9pm each day
Where: Mountain Christian Church, 1824 Mountain Rd., Joppa, Md. 21085
Services will be held Tuesday March 31 at 11am.
From the Harford County web site:
Harford County Council member and community leader Veronica “Roni” Chenowith died on Tuesday, March 24 after a hard fought battle with leukemia. She was 70 years old.
“Roni was a very special lady. Her passion for her community and her love of children and youth were unparalleled,” said her husband of 48 years, Joseph Chenowith. “I could not have asked for a better partner in life and business.”
Councilwoman Chenowith served on the County Council for 15 years and would have completed her fourth term in November of 2010. She was first elected in 1994 representing District B which includes communities in Fallston and Abingdon. During her tenure on the Council her insight and working knowledge of the County helped immensely through two comprehensive rezoning processes, two Master Land Use updates, and county-wide redistricting. She was instrumental in creating legislation to support Continuing Care Retirement Communities and working with the Greater Fallston Community Association to bring about changes to help with the MTBE well contamination issues.
She started her life long career of public service through her leadership in the Fallston Recreation Council and the Youth Benefit Elementary School PTA. With her husband, she co-founded Harford Little League Football at Fallston Recreation Council and was active in the lacrosse and baseball programs. Recently, County Executive David R. Craig had announced at a groundbreaking ceremony that the Fallston Recreation and Senior Center would bear her name in tribute of all she had done for the youth of this County. Until her illness, she never missed a Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor which won her the Good Scout Award in 2004. She always attended every Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony, Elementary School Patriot Program, and brought greetings and well wishes to the graduating class of Fallston High School each and every year.
Her other passions included support for the Harford County Public Library serving as the Council Liaison to the Board of Trustees and an avid supporter of the Harford Library Foundation. She was a member on the Harford Center Board, the Social Services Advisory Board, and liaison to the ARC and Harford County Chamber of Commerce.
Her work in support of the Sexual Abuse Resource Center was instrumental in securing its present day location. She was the co-founder of Harford United Charities and this year she received the Human Relations Commission Martin Luther King / Joseph Bond Good Neighbor Award.
Besides her husband, Councilwoman Chenowith is survived by a son, Joseph, Jr. She was predeceased by a son, Jeffrey who was always in her thoughts, prayers, and heart.
Here is her county government biography:
Veronica “Roni” Chenowith is the Council Member for District B which includes: Fallston, Upper Cross Roads and Emmorton. She was elected in 1994, and re-elected in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
Councilwoman Chenowith managed the family business with her husband for more than thirty years before entering public service. She was appointed to the Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission by the Governor and served in that capacity for two four-year terms. She graduated from the Harford Leadership Academy in 1997.
As a member of the Harford County Council, Councilwoman Chenowith serves on the Harford County Library Board of Trustees, the Harford Center Board, and the Social Services Advisory Board. She is the Council Liaison to ARC and the Harford County Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as a member of the Council Personnel Committee. She is co-founder of Harford United Charities and serves on the Board of Directors.
Councilwoman Chenowith served on the Board of Directors of the Fallston Recreation Council. She co-founded Fallston Little League Football and was active in boys’ lacrosse and baseball. She is an honorary board member of the Harford County Boys and Girls Club.
Councilwoman Chenowith is married to Joseph and they have two sons, Joe Jr. and the late Jeffrey Chenowith.
Roni always told me she was a “tough old bird” and anyone who ever went up against her on an issue knows that to be a fact. But she also had a huge heart for kids. Roni, I hope you are with your beloved Jeffrey now. Rest in peace.
She was a very dedicated and hard working councilwoman. A real patriot to Harford county.
Go Dagger !
God bless and welcome Roni-Mrs.Chenowith had a tough and tenacious reputation but she showed me her warm side with genuine and heartfelt condolences offered when I was assaulted and battered in 2005 due to my activism in Edgewood.In 5 minutes I had a whole new perspective of her as she told me of losing her son and whisked a tear from her eye. Best wishes and sympathies from me to all her were close to her.Sincerely,Mark Franz,Edgewood.
The Harford County Municipal Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 128 (MD) would like to send its condolences to the family and friends of Veronica “Roni” Chenowith.
Our lodge thanks “Roni” for the support she extended to our members. She will be surely missed however not forgotten.
Sincerely,
Jason Neidig
Vice President/Secretary
This is truly the end of a political era in Harford County. I think Roni might hold the record for the longest career on the Harford County Council – 15 years. It seemed like she was always around – every ribbon-cutting, fire banquet, ground-breaking, parade and public meeting.
There are plenty of moments I recall about Roni:
– The day she got into a fight with former councilwoman Susan Heselton during a budget hearing and asked “Why is she so hateful?” after Heselton stormed off into a back room. That one always makes me laugh.
– The night her son was seriously injured after falling from a ladder. Roni’s husband stormed into the council chambers, ran up to her with tears in his eyes and told her “Joe’s hurt.” It was so tragic. Roni screamed and both ran out of the chambers. The shocked audience then sat in silence for about an hour after then-council president Rob Wagner requested the Harford Cable Network television crews rewind there tapes to just before the incident, so the drama would be recoreded over. Just a heartbreaking moment.
– I also remember the afternoon Roni and I met in her office to discuss a bill. We sat closer than we ever had before and she stopped at one point and exclaimed, “My God, you have the most beautiful eyes.” Maybe that was a line she used on all the cub reporters, but it worked.
Her and Del. Parrott were two of the most omni-present and vocal elected officials in Harford County – male or female. And to lose them both in such a short period of time is hard to believe.
An end of an era is the appropriate sentiment. Councilwoman Chenowith will be missed by many. Losing her, Delegate Parrott and Superintendent Haas within a few short months of each other is a tremendous loss for Harford County. These three women were icons of strong will and deep compassion within the community. The term trilogy is generally used to classify three works of art or literature connected by a common theme. The lives and work of Roni, Joann and Jackie will forever be connected by the common thread of fierce commitment to their community – iron fists in velvet gloves. I think that would qualify them as a trilogy in any historian’s book.
I feel a great loss with the passing of Roni Chenowith, as I am sure all of Harford County does. I had the the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Chenowith on several occasions during Boy Scout activities with my son, council meetings and other charitable events. She was always there for the Scouts and always supportive with an encouraging word. As a regular participant of the South County Relay for Life event, my most fondest memory of “Roni” was 2 years ago at the opening ceremonies. She came out on a chilly Friday evening to give a speech that brought tears to my eyes. You could see she was struggling that day but she was determined to continue on… saluting the National Guard, the walkers, the survivors …. To shake her hand was a true honor for me. She will be greatly missed for all of the hard work and dedication to this county but most of all for the true humanitarian she is. My deepest condolences to the Chenowith family.
God bless you Roni. Our loss is Jeffrey’s gain.
You gave so much more to this world, and to our community, than you took from it. We will honor you by trying to work as hard as you did; and by trying to care as much as you did.
Matching you in either of those categories is a tall order, but if we can get part of the way there…..we’re doing okay.
Our prayers and thoughts will always be with you and your family.
Roni was a toughlove mom.
She understood the balance between tough when need be and love when earned.
I will miss her always.
Aunt Ronnie–you will be truly missed, but now you are at peace and watching over all of us. I day will not pass that I will not think of you.
Roni,
We went through a lot of good times together, I will miss you and you are tucked in the corner of my heart with Jeffrey.
As you called me,Your Best X Sister-in-law in the world.
What a dedicated public servant. Thank you Councilwoman for your service-Harford county is better because of you. My condolences to the Chenowith family.
Roni was a councilwoman who always stood up for her district, and I was always impressed by the work she did to better the lives of the senior citizens in the area. What I most remember about Roni was the way she always had a hug whenever anyone was within range, but she was never afraid to let others know how she felt either, and I witnessed that passion during frequent interviews. One of the most iconic images of Roni in my mind will be the delighted smile she wore whenever she was in charge of honoring someone at the council; you knew it was genuine. It’s still inspiring that she continued to work for her district, even through all the trials of her health. I know she will be missed.