Irene Pittman, 97, was recently honored for 33 years of service with Big Brothers Big Sisters; she wants a shot to get back in the classroom

For more than 30 years, Fanny Irene Pittman devoted thousands of hours of volunteer service to the Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Pittman, 97 and a retired licensed practical nurse with the state, devoted much of that time to tutoring and mentoring students at Carmen Arace Intermediate School in Bloomfield.

Pittman was recognized recently by Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters for her 33 years of service as a senior mentor in its Foster Grandparent program. She is the longest-serving volunteer in the organization’s 54-year history.

Andy Fleischmann, president & CEO of Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, said Thursday that over the years Pittman “has worked with countless Bloomfield children, who cherish the love, counsel and teaching she has passed along.

“At Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, we adore Mrs. Pittman. She has been a role model for all of us, a member of our board and a passionate supporter of our mission for decades — always helping children in need reach their highest potential,” Fleischmann said. “Mrs. Pittman embodies everything we look for in a volunteer: caring, consistency, commitment and love.”

Asked how much longer she expects to keep volunteering, Pittman, whose granddaughter is former UConn and WNBA basketball star Nykesha Sales, was direct.

“I guess until I can’t walk,” she said.

For many years, Pittman would spend five hours a day, five days a week working in the school.

But that ended last March when the spread of COVID-19 resulted in everyone being sent home to learn remotely.

But now with the announcement that people 75-years-old and older can sign up to get the vaccine, Pittman may be heading back to the classroom sooner rather than later.

Pittman said her doctor told her that he is getting the vaccine and that she is looking forward to taking it so that when Bloomfield students and staff return to in-person learning she can join them.

“Right now I’m doing nothing. I like to socialize,” she said Thursday. “I miss seeing people, touching people. I just want to be with people.”

Steven Goode can be reached at sgoode@courant.com.