Her great uncle John began the family's luxury jewelry business in 1948 in Danbury, and in 1966 her grandfather, Rick, opened the Ridgefield store, which her father, Wayne, now runs. Kathryn Addessi, known as Kate, is a third-generation member of the family business, Addessi Jewelers, 387 Main St. in Ridgefield. A 2010 graduate of Immaculate High School in Danbury, she is taking a year off before college to learn about the store's operation.
"My main focus is helping my aunt, Debbie Addessi-Bush, with appraisals," she said. "Aunt Debbie, who is a Certified Gemologist Appraiser, performs the appraisals, and I take photos of the jewels, type the report and file it."
Ms. Addessi has gone on buying trips with her dad, and at the store she also handles sales to customers and performs tasks, such as organizing gift-wrapping supplies and monitoring the stock of boxes. And, just as her Aunt Debbie did when she was a teenager at the store, she cleans the glass cases and dusts shelves. Ms. Addessi is also studying to become an Accredited Jewelry Professional and has enrolled in her first course with the Gemological Institute of America.
Her father, Wayne Addessi, says, "We've always been a close family and working together is very special. I am proud of her drive and dedication. Having her in the store takes me back to my childhood memories as well. Each day I look forward to her being here."
Ms. Addessi can be found in the store Tuesday-Friday, but on Sunday and Monday she is involved in another key interest of hers – teaching religion to young children. This is her fifth year of teaching religious education at St. Rose of Lima in Newtown.
