This year’s Bristol Sports Club Woman of the Year, Cidalia Rodrigues. For this 64-year-old bundle of energy, her special night on Nov. 11 is sure to be memorable.

Being named the recipient of this club’s highest honor came as a shock to Cidalia.

“I was very surprised when they picked me for this tremendous honor,” said Rodrigues, who admittedly doesn’t like being in the spotlight. “I am truly honored that the committee chose me.”

Bristol Sports Club President Elisio Castro said selecting Cidala Rodrigues as this year’s Woman of the Year was a no-brainer.

“Bristol Sports decided on picking Cidalia because she's doing so many things for the Bristol community,” he explained earlier. “Besides that, she's helped Bristol Sports keep its doors open during some difficult times, including helping the Club fund money to pay off everything when every single bank in town closed its doors to us. But, Cidalia decided to help, and thanks to her, it helped make my job easier.”

Having immigrated to East Providence from St. Michael’s in the Azores at the age of 10, Cidalia graduated from East Providence High School in 1979 where she attended vocational school.

“That was the best move I ever made,” she admitted.

One of four daughters of Concaicao Araujo and the late Dorvalino Araujo, Cidalia has been married to Joe Rodrigues for the past 44 years. Together, they have raised three children: Joshua Rodrigues, the Rev. Jeremy Rodrigues, and Tiffany Tiberio. They also have four grandchildren: Heidi and Jacob Rodrigues and Lucinda and Lincoln Tiberio.

Although she loved living in East Providence previously, she really found a home in Bristol, where she’s been heavily involved in banking for the past 29 years (insurance before that). She’s currently Vice President and Branch Manager of Bank Newport in Bristol. She is responsible for customer service, branch operations and team development.

Very popular in the Bristol community, Cidalia is a past president of the Bristol Rotary Club and past chairman of the East Bay Chamber of Commerce and a member of its board of directors. She’s also a past mentor in the Alan Feinstein program.

“Cid has been a dedicated and valuable member of the Bristol Rotary Club for 23 years,” noted current president Paul LaFleur. She’s a past president, and two-time recipient of the prestigious Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award. She is currently serving as Club Treasurer, and has been doing so for a number of years.”

He added, “On a personal note, I consider her one of our most valuable members. She is always ready and willing to participate in all of our projects and fundraisers, and always looking to help those in the community. She very much exemplifies our club motto of ‘Help us Help Others.’ She is a good friend and a wonderful person.”

No matter whom you interview, the overall expression of love and devotion for this woman is apparent.

Said Angela Cabral, administrator at Franklin Court Assisted Living, “Cid is an incredible person. She is so dedicated to her heritage and community. She has been a Rotarian for decades and is always going above and beyond to help others. I’m so proud to be a friend of this super-strong Portuguese-American woman.”

Other prominent members of the Bristol community have also stepped forward In support of what Cidalia Rodrigues has meant to her community.

“Colleague, parishioner, Rotarian, ‘Mayor of Bristol’…she wears many hats in the community, but to me, she is one of my very good friends,” said Jess Cirillo Almeida, Bristol-Warren Regional School District Committee Treasurer. “For as long as I have known Cid, she has always been community driven for causes and missions that are close to her heart, whether this is through her employer, her church, as a Rotarian, or as her own heartfelt self. I could not think of anyone more deserving of this year’s Bristol Sports Club ‘Woman of the Year’ honor.”

As local resident Alzira Guedes added, “Cidalia is a compassionate person and she’s willing to help everybody.”

Sitting in her Bristol branch office, Cidalia looked back on a career that has been most rewarding.

“I love my job and the people I work with,” she smiled. “It makes you understand why people appreciate you. It’s very rewarding and exciting helping other people. I am so thankful and blessed.”

As one might expect, and rightfully so, being of Portuguese heritage has helped Cidalia truly appreciate her place in the beautiful town she now lives in.

“Portugal was my birthplace,” she said, “but Bristol is my home now. You can be anything you want to be if you work hard at it. This is a dream come true.”