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Barb Tapovatz fearlessly takes on volunteer duty

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Barb Tapovatz

JANESVILLE — As an executive assistant for Alliant Energy, Barb Tapovatz was once assigned to drive to Madison. She had never been there before.

She took a deep breath, taking a big step out of what she calls "my little Janesville shell."

Pretty soon, she was zooming around town with the best of them. Now retired from Alliant for seven years, Tapovatz continues to take on new tasks as a volunteer for a wide range of local causes, such as the Hedberg Public Library, Rotary Gardens and the Bower City Garden Club.

"There's nothing much that scares me anymore, except introducing an act at JPAC," she said.

Tapovatz, who serves on the board of Janesville Presents!, once introduced a piano duet at the Janesville Performing Arts Center. She was terrified, she said, but she wore outlandish earrings in hopes it would take the focus off of her, and it apparently worked.

Someone afterward told her she had done a good job and complimented her on her choice of ear wear.

Friend Millie Babcock calls Tapovatz a "Wonder Woman" for her ability to get so much done in her own life and for others.

"She's busier volunteering than most people are at their full-time jobs," Babcock said.

Her administrative-assistant skills come in handy, and once people find out you can turn out a newsletter, for example, they keep on asking, Tapovatz said. Late-night deadlines are too common.

"But it's fun. You work with some really nice people," Tapovatz said.

On a personal level, Tapovatz is one of those people who is easy to warm up to.

"To know her is to love her," Babcock said.

"There's something really genuine about Barb," said Lori Stottler, who served on a First Lutheran Church committee with Tapovatz for several years. "She really knows how to get things done, but she does it tactfully. … I just admire her as a person. She's very good to the elderly people of our church. She's very caring, and she's a busy woman."

Outside of the volunteer realm, Tapovatz sells real estate and paints watercolors.

"I really liked art, but I got married, and I really never took the time to do anything about it," she said.

Tapovatz began taking art classes about five years ago. She is humble about her efforts, but Babcock marvels at them and notes they're good enough to be auctioned off when Tapovatz donates them to charity auctions.

Add doting on grandchildren to the list of must-dos in Tapovatz's life, and she's always on the move.

For other retirees, Tapovatz has these thoughts: "People say 'I'm lonely.' I say, 'Oh, my gosh, get out there, open yourself up.' I don't have lonely days."