Bethlehem Town Court clerk Barbara J. Hodom, who has lived in Slingerlands since 1965, is set to retire Friday, July 18, and leave a job that has kept her busy for the past three decades.
During her four decades in Bethlehem, Hodom has brought up two children, became the Town of Bethlehem court clerk, served as the President of the New York State Magistrate Court Clerk Association, and was named Court Clerk of the Year for the state in 1996.
Starting in 1978, Hodom has worked with the Town of Bethlehem as court clerk, with responsibilities such as being in charge of court records, getting files ready for the different courts and overseeing the staff in a job that she said is, so varied and interesting.
`She made the job very enjoyable and will be deeply missed,` said Bethlehem Town Justice Ryan Donovan of Hodom’s retirement. `She [Hodom] is an institution in the court and is a statewide resource.`
`[Hodom] is a very tremendous court clerk, very knowledgeable and is a huge loss to the court,` said Bethlehem Town Justice Paul F. Dwyer about the colleague he has known for more than 25 years, having worked with her first when he was an assistant district attorney, then in the 1980s as a defense lawyer, from 2001 to 2003 as a deputy town prosecutor for the town of Bethlehem and since 2003 as town justice. `I can’t say enough about her.`
`In all my career, I have never had a bad judge,` Hodom said of the justices she has worked with over the years, `We are very lucky to have professional judges in the Town of Bethlehem.`
She said she is also grateful to the town supervisors and town board members who have been supportive over the years of the court.
Because the Town of Bethlehem is ranked 33 out of 1,200 in the state for town and village courts because of its size and volume, it’s not hard to believe why Hodom was picked to be the president of the New York State Magistrate Court Clerk Association during the late 1980s. With that appointment, her work in the town turned to a statewide job that allowed her to become a resource for clerks across New York as well as gain her own insight into the workings of other town and village court systems. She plans to stay on the executive board because of her past as a president and continue to be able to help those statewide who need her assistance.
Hodom’s impact on the courts of Bethlehem is apparent from those who relied on her for assistance in the courtroom on a daily basis. `She is an institution at court,` said Donovan.
Town Supervisor Jack Cunningham said he has known Hodom since he was a bank teller in the 1970s.
`I am going to miss her a lot,` said Cunningham. ` She has been instrumental in a smooth running of the court for the past 30-plus years. She is a big asset to the town, and I wish her a happy retirement.`
Hodom plans to devote her free time toward a number of activities with her husband.
`We like to golf, travel around, garden and spend quality time with the family,` said Hodom.
Even though she is retiring from the position of court clerk, Hodom will still be active as a member of the New York State Magistrate Court Clerk Association’s Executive Board and will only be a phone call away for help and guidance in the community after she leaves her position in mid-July.
`I’ll be around to help,` said Hodom.
A dinner in honor of Hodom is scheduled for Friday, July 11, at Normanside Country Club, with a cocktail hour to start at 6 p.m. until dinner at 7 p.m. Reservations are requested by Friday, June 27, and dinner is $40 per person. RSVP and checks should be payable to Ronnie Blendell, 4 South Helderberg Parkway.“
