Lynn Legacies, Volume II, December 2010

LynnMuseumposter.ai
3/25/2010
5:10:11 PM
What happens
in Lynn
What happens
in Lynn
Stays.
For more information, call the Lynn Museum & Historical Society
at 781-581-6200 or visit www.lynnmuseum.org
Lynn is known as the Shoe City. It is
the home of Marshmallow Fluff and the
birthplace of the “Golden Greek.”
For more than a century, the Lynn
Museum & Historical Society has collected, maintained and fostered an appreciation
of Lynn through its textiles, paintings,
photographs and historical artifacts.
Ours is a city built on fascinating
legacies — legacies that the Museum is
determined to preserve and pass on to
future generations.
Twenty-one of these legacies are
featured on the following pages: individuals,
families and businesses that have made a
significant contribution to Lynn’s history.
These legacies will be incorporated
into the Museum’s permanent collection.
PRESENTING SPONSORS
Steve Rima/
McDonald’s on
the Lynnway
LYNN LEGACIES
All Care VNA
2
James Leo McGuinness
14
Steven J. Babbitt
3
Meninno Construction
15
Edward H. Cahill
4
John Nerich
16
Jansi Chandler
5
North Shore Labor Council 17
Nicholas A. Consoles
6
John L. O’Brien
18
Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home 7
Panakio Adjusters
19
EDIC/Lynn
8
David L. Phillips
20
Robert G. Furlong
9
James O. Spinney
21
Roger L.Volk
22
Deborah Smith Walsh
23
Charles J. Gaeta
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT &
INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION OF LYNN
SPONSORS
Agganis
Foundation
10
Atty. Martin C. Goldman 11
Lynn Mayors
12-13
2 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
ALL CARE VISITING NURSES ASSOCIATION
Celebrating a
century of
caring for all
n January 1911, the Lynn Visiting Nurses
Association was formed. Its core mission
was to serve the needs of the povertystricken members of the community who were
unable to otherwise obtain the care that they
needed.
To understand All Care’s history and
commitment to the community one would have
to look back 100 years to the hiring of the
company’s first employee, a nurse named Mary
Sullivan. Mary would start her days by checking
her calls at the local drug store. From there she
would ride her bike, walk or take a streetcar to
provide care to her patients in their homes.
Mary made over 260 visits in that first year.
Through the years the name has changed –
first to the VNA of Greater Lynn in 1964 and
then to All Care VNA of Greater Lynn in 1993 –
but two things haven’t: the agency’s status as a
nonprofit organization and its commitment to
providing affordable, quality health care at
home.
Cut to the present: In 2009, All Care VNA of
Greater Lynn served 11,832 people.
“All Care VNA has been a medical resource
for the Greater Lynn community for almost 100
years,” said All Care VNA President and CEO
Shawn Potter. “Even though times have
changed, we still care for our patients in the
comfort of their homes by providing the quality
of care needed to continue their recovery.”
When illness and injury strike, All Care
VNA’s knowledgeable and compassionate health
care professionals deliver the care and support
necessary for their patients and help relieve their
anxiety and stress as they recuperate. As health
care needs have changed, so have services. The
agency may now be called upon to provide
skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapy, social
work services and home health aides. All Care
provides these services to their patients
regardless of their ability to pay, and over the
last ten years the agency has provided $2.5
million in free or subsidized care.
Potter said All Care’s commitment to the
community has not changed in a century; it still
offers the same vital service. And, as health care
evolves and the length of hospital stays
decrease, home health care remains the most
cost-efficient and effective way of providing
health care.
I
Top photo, some of the original visiting
nurses in Lynn. At left, nurse Nancy RobertsMcKenna interacts with Bill Potter during a
home visit.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 3
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
STEVEN J. BABBITT
Steve Babbitt and his wife, Diana, enjoy their beloved Lynn Woods.
He is a friend of Lynn Woods
teven J. Babbitt has a passion for
parks – actually, open space and
recreational areas. Mr. Babbitt,
58, is also an avid historian. He has found
ways to put both interests to use to serve
the city he loves.
Mr. Babbitt was one of the founding
members of the Friends of Lynn Woods
and served as the inaugural president for
10 years. The nonprofit group, founded
in 1989, has advocated for the protection
of the 2,200-acre municipal treasure that
is a mecca for recreational activities such
as running, hiking and mountain biking.
Mr. Babbitt is confident that the Friends,
S
through hard work and determination,
have helped preserve Lynn’s natural
treasure for future generations.
Mr. Babbitt can remember when the
Lynn Woods was a hangout for
motorcycle gangs and a place to dump
stolen cars. Now there is a full-time
ranger on the property, paid for with the
cooperation of the Lynn Water and Sewer
Commission, and events, such as
Dungeon Rock Day, that draw thousands
of participants annually. The restoration
of landmarks such as the Rose Garden
and the Stone Tower has led to a further
resurgence of interest in one of Lynn’s
greatest resources.
In 1992, Mr. Babbitt earned the
Audubon A Award from the
Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Mr. Babbitt, retired from Verizon, is a
director of the NMTW Credit Union and
has served as president of the Lynn
Museum and Historical Society.
Bringing two of his passions together, the
Lynn Museum will opened an exhibit
celebrating Lynn Woods in January.
In 1993, then-Mayor Patrick J.
McManus first appointed Mr. Babbitt to
the Board of Park Commissioners, which
he has served as chairman for the last six
years. He said the biggest challenge is
accommodating the growing demands
that sports organizations and other groups
place on Lynn’s great park system.
He had the honor of serving as a
torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympics
during the Boston segment of the torch
run.
Mr. Babbitt believes his volunteerism
has made Lynn a better place for all,
including his wife, Diana, and daughters
Shannon, Erin and Jennifer. “I’d like to
be thought of as someone who got
involved in things that benefited the
entire city,” he said.
4 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
E D WA R D H . C A H I L L
He had
the write stuff
dward H. Cahill was
coverage of local teams. He took the
someone whose public voice reins as sports editor during the golden
was as well-known and
era of Lynn sports and had close
well-respected as his writing.
relationships with local greats such as
The longest-serving commissioner in Harry Agganis, Johnny Pesky and Jim
Essex County history, Mr. Cahill was
Hegan. He met his St. Louis-born
also a former Lynn City Council
wife, Mildred, in 1946 while covering
president, sports editor and columnist at the Red Sox-Cardinals World Series.
the Daily Item of Lynn, radio
In 1939, Mr. Cahill launched his
personality and sought-after toastmaster career in politics when he was
and story teller.
elected councilor at large in Lynn.
“It’s amazing to think
When he enlisted in
about how many
the Marines during
different aspects of
World War II, he gave
North Shore life he was
up his council seat to
a part of for five
his father, but was redecades,” said his son,
elected in 1945. He
Edward L. Cahill.
served on the council
“People still tell us that
until 1957. In 1958, he
he used his newspaper
was elected an Essex
and political positions to
County commissioner,
celebrate and help
a position he held for
others.”
seven terms, totaling
If the younger Cahill
28 years, eclipsing the
had to sum up the
previous record set by
lessons of his father in
the late C.F. Nelson
one word, it would be
Pratt of Saugus. He
integrity.
served several years as
“He said to us,
chairman of the
‘always do the right
commission.
thing, no matter what
In addition to his
A 1958 ad encouraged
anyone else says or
newsroom and political
voters to elect Ed Cahill
thinks, and always be
responsibilities, Mr.
County Commissioner.
kind to people,’” he
Cahill hosted a sports
said.
radio show on WLYN
“Not only was he a gentle man, he
during the 1950s and served as the
was a fine public servant in every
public address announcer at Manning
capacity that he served,” said former
Bowl and Fraser Field, as well as
Mayor and Postmaster Thomas P.
master of ceremonies at many
Costin Jr.
charitable events. He also served a
A lifelong resident of Lynn, Mr.
short stint as general manager of a
Cahill attended Classical High
minor-league baseball team, the
School and began his newspaper
Lawrence Millionaires.
career as an Item high school
Mr. Cahill played an integral role in
correspondent in 1925. He was later
founding the Item All-Star teams and
hired as a reporter, served as sports
was passionate about supporting the
editor from 1946-74 and ended his
Agganis Foundation, among other
Item career as copy editor on the city nonprofit organizations. He passed
desk in 1978.
away in 1994, leaving his wife and
He was known for his popular daily their three children, Edward, Ellen and
“Cracker Barrel” column and for his
Eileen.
E
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 5
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
JANSI CHANDLER
As Lynn’s only female development director,
Jansi Chandler worked closely with mayors
Patrick J. McManus, top, and Albert V. DiVirgilio,
and took an active role in development projects.
Chandler gave a lot to the city
ansi Chandler had her critics during her lengthy
tenure as executive director of Lynn Community
Development. People moaned and groaned about
the murals she had painted in vacant storefronts on Union
Street, arguing that real businesses would be much better.
No kidding.
She also took a lot of heat because she grew up in
Marblehead and lived in Swampscott during her CD
tenure. But she was born in Lynn and her father, Herb,
owned New Angle Glass on the Lynnway.
But if you think I’m going to join in this harpoon-fest,
turn to another page, because I have a different view of
Jansi Chandler.
Jansi Chandler and Community Development have
been very good to an enormous amount of people since
she took over in 1986. Youth sports groups rely on CD
money for equipment. The department helped renovate 23
parks and playgrounds. The showpieces include Hood
Park, which is home to one of the best soccer facilities
anywhere; and Ben Bowzer Complex at Breed,
headquarters for Lynn Babe Ruth.
Chandler helped arrange a loan for Babe Ruth so that
its facility could become a real-life Field of Dreams.
Through the years, she’s proven a consistent friend to the
organization.
J
Chandler generated $80 million in federal and state
funds. She oversaw construction of 100 infill houses (74
as executive director) that generate $154,000 in tax
revenue. Several of those houses were put on upper Union
Street, a move that positively changed the neighborhood.
She also oversaw the opening of the Small Business
Assistance Center; the creation of the position of Small
Business Advocate and the information booth in the City
Hall foyer. The $7.7 million Washington Street upgrade –
opposed by many, but successful nonetheless – was
another CD project, as was the rerouting of Route 129.
CD also was quick to recognize the burgeoning cybermovement, supporting Shore.Net of Lynn through
$500,000 federal 108 loans – all of which helped launch
the Cyber District.
The organization has lent its support for development to
the old Phillips complex on the Lynnway for expansion of
West Lynn Creamery. The project has meant 150 new jobs
already, with 70 more in the works next year.
Chandler was a huge contributor to the Lynn Arts &
Cultural District, securing funding for LynnArts at 25
Exchange St. and the Community Cultural Minority
Center on Union Street.
She has received the NAHRO Honor Award for
Excellence in Program Innovation (for the infill housing
project), NCDA Audrey Nelson Community Achievement
Award (for Raw ArtWorks); Community First Banker’s
Award (for Lynn Community Development Housing
Corporation); HUD Best Practices (for Citizen
Participation in the Consolidated Planning Process) and
the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s City Livability Award.
It wasn’t all work, of course. The CD Department ran a
going-away party for her last Friday, and, apparently, Jansi
is as well-known around area golf courses as she is in
board meetings. She also apparently enjoys food, although
you wouldn’t think so to look at her.
Anyway, her time at CD is over, and she’ll join
Grant Group as an independent consultant working
with communities in-state and beyond. I hope that
whoever takes her place turns out to be just half as
effective as she was.
REPRINTED FROM THE DAILY EVENING ITEM, FEB. 11, 1998.
6 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
NICHOLAS A. CONSOLES
Natural ability ensured a great career
mong the greatest athletes to
hail from Lynn is former St.
Mary’s and Wake Forest
gridiron star and coach Nicholas A.
Consoles.
Mr. Consoles, the son of Italian
immigrants Luigi and Dora Consoles, was
born and raised on Murray Street in West
Lynn. His father worked for a local Lynn
rubber company and later as a laborer at
General Electric. One of four children, Mr.
Consoles was the only one in his family to
attend parochial school – Sacred Heart and
St. Mary’s High School.
“St. Mary’s had a big influence on my
life,” said Mr. Consoles, a 1952 graduate.
“I ended up with a lot of strong
friendships.”
At St. Mary’s, he was a member of the
football, basketball and baseball teams, but
made a lasting imprint on the school’s grid
history. His 60-yard Hail Mary touchdown
pass in the final seconds of the game on Sept.
A
22, 1951 led St. Mary’s to a 19-13 win over
Lawrence Central, ending its winning streak.
Mr. Consoles went on to excel at Wake
Forest, developing a reputation as one of
the nation’s top passing quarterbacks and
earning a degree in business. He was the
first in his family to pursue a college
education. As a junior, he was the leading
passer in the Atlantic Coast Conference
and won a spot as quarterback on the AllConference team. He was named cocaptain his senior year and was one of two
college quarterbacks selected to represent
the South in the North-South All-Star
Game played on Christmas Day at the
Miami Orange Bowl.
Upon graduation, Mr. Consoles was
drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and
reported to camp, but a shoulder injury
brought an end to his short professional
football career. He went back to Wake
Forest, coaching freshman football. He
accepted a job at a life insurance
company in North Carolina, getting a
taste of the business. When he returned to
Lynn, he took a position at Columbia
Insurance Agency and coached St.
Mary’s football for five seasons. He
branched out on his own at age 25,
opening Consoles Insurance Agency.
“Everyone dreams of being their own
boss,” said Mr. Consoles. “I was fortunate
because in the insurance business you need
to know people, and I had a lot of help
from a lot of people.”
Mr. Consoles has remained active in
the Lynn community, serving as chairman
of the St. Mary’s Annual Golf Open,
board member of the Lynn Area Chamber
of Commerce and chairman of the
chamber’s National Legislative
Committee. After nearly five decades of
running Consoles Insurance, Mr.
Consoles sold the business last year to
his son, Anthony, who joined the agency
in 1984.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 7
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME
Walter Cuffe Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father,Walter Cuffe Sr., in the family business.
Providing solace in time of loss
he Cuffe-McGinn Funeral
Home was born of tragedy, but
through service and reputation
prospered and became a Lynn
institution.
Walter A. Cuffe Sr., one of 12
children born to Irish immigrants
Patrick J. and Mary E. (Walsh) Cuffe,
became interested in the funeral service
profession in the winter of 1914-15
when a flu epidemic decimated the city.
In 1934, he established the Walter A.
Cuffe Funeral Home at 15 Johnson St.
He also became a well-known Irish
tenor and a noted politician, with
lengthy terms on the Lynn City Council
T
and as a state representative.
The children of Walter and his wife,
Loretta (Thomas) Cuffe — Walter A.
Cuffe Jr. and Loretta Cuffe-O’Donnell
— took different paths, with Walter Jr.
working next to his father, and spending
time as a Lynn teacher and guidance
counselor at Lynn Classical High
School, before becoming a licensed
funeral director in 1963.
Loretta Cuffe-O’Donnell became a
teacher in Lynn and Salem, then served
the city as a member of the Lynn School
Committee and the Lynn City Council.
In 1976, a merger took place with the
William E. McGinn Funeral Home at
157 Maple St. Walter A. Cuffe Jr. and
his wife, Sally, took up residence above
the funeral home and lived on Maple
Street for 27 years. Their family
includes daughters Kelley, Katy and
Kerrin and six grandchildren.
Walter A. Cuffe Jr., earned a
reputation for doing many good deeds
without recognition and for always
putting families first, treating each
family as if it were his own, while
serving the community in a variety of
ways, as a member of many boards and
organizations.
The funeral home was sold to the
Alderwoods Group in 1995 and is now
an affiliate of Dignity Memorial, the
largest funeral service provider in the
world. Walter A. Cuffe Jr., 69, after
more than 47 years of service to the
Lynn community, is still actively
involved in the business as a senior
funeral director and mentor. Manager
Tom Newhall feels the responsibility
that has been handed to him by the
members of the Cuffe family.
“I’d like to be thought of as someone
who took care of families when they
needed help,” Walter A. Cuffe Jr. said.
“I think we’ve always been there for
them and we’re still doing it today with
our exceptional staff.”
8 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T & I N D U S T R I A L C O R P. LY N N
Developing
Lynn’s
future
oney – make that borrowed money – is the
lifeblood of economic development. If an
entrepreneur or business has no entree into the
capital market for a new business or idea, or a possible
expansion, opportunity is lost.
EDIC/Lynn – the Economic Development and Industrial
Corp. – was created by an act of the state legislature in
1977 which was submitted by then-Mayor Antonio Marino.
Using a combination of state and federal funds, the EDIC,
a quasi-public entity, is a commercial lender of last resort
for many businesses, especially during the current
economic crunch.
From 1977-2010, EDIC/Lynn made 3,400 loans worth
$14 million and created 2,000 new jobs. Most of the
agency’s loans are microloans ranging from $3,000 to
$50,000. In some cases, the EDIC augments what
businesses have been able to get from traditional banks. In
other cases, it is the lender of last resort.
EDIC/Lynn Executive Director James M. Cowdell
presents the loans for approval by the EDIC board, which
has seven members, six appointed by the mayor, one by the
City Council. The Board of Directors includes Chairman
Charles Gaeta. who has served on the board since its
inception in 1977.
When bank loans dried up after the economic meltdown
of 2008, the EDIC made more loans over the next 30
months than at any point in its history keeping many small
businesses afloat.
The agency can be more flexible in the terms of its
loans, especially when it comes to length. While
EDIC/Lynn can absorb more risks than a traditional lender
and does, Cowdell said the agency still has a low
delinquency rate.
“We couldn’t stay in business otherwise,” he said.
The EDIC doesn’t just process loans; it provides
prospective businesses with information on properties and
sites available for lease or purchase in the city. Through an
affiliation with the Service Corps of Retired Executives it
helps entrepreneurs devise business plans.
Another part of the EDIC mission is to improve the
city’s infrastructure, which also improves the conditions for
economic development.
EDIC has had a significant impact in the central business
district. Recent accomplishments include the expansion of
the Lynn Community Health Center, the construction of the
VNA headquarters and the addition of 250 new residents
that now call downtown Lynn their home.
Cowdell pointed to EDIC Lynn’s $6.5 million project
completed in 2010 to relocate power lines on properties on
the Lynn waterfront along the Lynnway, opening them up
to potential commercial development and new businesses,
some of which the EDIC could help finance.
“This project has the potential to change the face of the
city,” Cowdell said.
M
An artist’s rendering of a redeveloped Lynn Waterfront.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 9
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
R O B E R T G. F U R L O N G
Clerk’s record of public service was unsurpassed
here are civil servants. And
then there are very civil
servants. Robert G. Furlong was
the kind of civil servant who gives
government a good name.
Mr. Furlong, who died in October
2009 at 73 after a bout with cancer, was
a West Lynner to the core, living his
entire life in the Waterhill Street home
he was brought up, and where he and his
wife, Jean, raised sons Sean, Matthew
and Timothy. He took delight in skiing
trips with his family for many years.
Before beginning a 27-year career
working for the city, Mr. Furlong
worked in the travel industry, running
tours. Then he was appointed by Mayor
T
Irving Kane to the Western-Walnut
Neighborhood Improvement Program in
West Lynn as the public relations officer
and later the financial officer. The
program helped people to fix up their
homes through rehab grants and loans
while making other infrastructure
improvements to the neighborhood. Mr.
Furlong worked hard in helping to get
support for the program, which was a
success, surpassing all goals.
Mr. Furlong then made his mark as the
City Council’s Clerk of Committees,
massaging the egos of 11 city councilors
with different agendas and making it all
look easy. Mr. Furlong was a font of
information for the new councilors,
guiding them through the City Hall
bureaucracy.
Later, as city clerk, Mr. Furlong
modernized the operations of the office
and put all of the records, many of them
going back to the city’s Colonial days,
on microfilm, saving them for posterity.
There are stories of the lengths he went
to in order to service his customers. He
would willingly open the City Clerk’s
office if there were an emergency and
someone needed a birth certificate or a
marriage certificate. As a justice of the
peace, he was often called on to marry a
couple on short notice.
“He instantly made people coming
into City Hall comfortable,” said his
widow, Jean.
He was equally proud of his Irish
heritage, and served as president of
Division 10, Ancient Order of
Hibernians. A great thrill was realized
when he personally transported his
favorite Irish singing star, Carmel
Quinn, from Logan Airport to City
Hall’s Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium
for a concert in the 1970s.
At Mr. Furlong’s funeral, his good
friend Ed Calnan paid tribute: “Bob had
this amazing way of acclimating himself
to whatever type of work he was
engaged in, and would do it well and
with dedication. The citizens of Lynn
were served well.”
10 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
CHARLES J. GAETA
Above, Charles Gaeta, third from right in the front row, was sworn in for his second term on the Lynn City Council in 1978.Top right, as a councilor in 1982. Above right, with his
family: wife Liz and sons, Charlie, left, and Chris.
Lending a hand to others for 35 years
itting in his office at 10 Church
St., looking out at his alma
mater, St. Mary’s High School,
as well as St. Mary’s Senior Housing
Complex -- which, as a city councilor, he
took a leadership role in developing,
along with an additional 1,000 senior
housing units -- Lynn Housing Authority
& Neighborhood Development
(LHAND) Executive Director Charles J.
Gaeta has come full circle.
Growing up in the Pine Hill
neighborhood of Lynn, Mr. Gaeta was
raised by a trio of influential women –
his mother, grandmother and aunt. His
mother worked as a bank supervisor to
provide for him.
“I grew up in the ’60s, with the
Kennedys, Dr. Martin Luther King and
the Vietnam War,” said Mr. Gaeta. “These
people and events had an impact on me as
S
a young person. At home and at St.
Mary’s, I learned the importance of being
involved, giving back and trying to make
things a little better for others. Politics
seemed the best way to address that.”
First elected to the Lynn City Council
in 1975, at age 23, Mr. Gaeta
represented Ward 5 for six years and
served as a councilor at large for one
term. During his tenure, he was elected
council president seven consecutive
years by his colleagues, starting when
he was only 25 – a feat never before
accomplished.
At the beginning of his leadership of
LHAND, in 1983, Mr. Gaeta undertook a
major reorganization of the agency,
putting in place a long-term plan to
address the housing needs of Lynn
residents. Currently, LHAND provides
housing and housing assistance to more
than 6,000 people, with the majority being
senior citizens and disabled individuals
and children.
In 1998, LHAND assumed
administration of all housing for the City
of Lynn, which led to a coordinated effort
to address housing and neighborhood
needs throughout the city. This also
included administration of what is now
known as Neighborhood Development
Associates (NDA) – the city’s premier
developer of quality affordable housing.
Under Mr. Gaeta’s guidance, NDA has
created more than 155 units of new
single- and multi-family homeownership
opportunities and has invested more than
$35 million into the city’s neighborhoods.
Mr. Gaeta has also been an instrumental
figure in the city’s economic development
for more than three decades. In 1978, he
was one of the original members of the
Economic Development Industrial
Corporation of Lynn (EDIC/Lynn) and
has served as chairman of the board for 22
years. Earlier this year, he was named
Volunteer of the Year by the Northeastern
Economic Developers for his long-term
commitment to EDIC/Lynn.
Additionally, Mr. Gaeta was one of
the founders of St. Jean’s Parish DropIn Center, and helped establish Serving
People In Need (SPIN), a nonprofit
agency serving the needs of the
homeless and at-risk population. He
also helped establish Affordable
Housing Associates of Lynn and
presently serves on the board of All
Care Hospice.
Mr. Gaeta and his wife of 27 years,
Liz, have raised two sons, Charlie and
Christopher.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 11
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
ATTORNEY MARTIN C. GOLDMAN
Martin Goldman, center, with his father, Charles, far left, and brothers, Harris and Bob (kneeling).
Providing counsel to clients and community
hether practicing law or
community service, Martin
Goldman doesn’t do
anything part-time.
A well-respected attorney and
community activist, Mr. Goldman
remains the surviving partner of
Goldman & Goldman, the law office
founded by his father, Charles.
Born and raised in Lynn, Charles
Goldman was a graduate of Lynn
Classical High School, Harvard
University and Boston University
School of Law. His father, Harris
Goldman, settled in Lynn in the 1880s.
Born in Lithuania, he immigrated to this
country at age 17, became a peddler and
later opened his own store on Market
W
Street. He was one of the original
founders and president of both
Congregation Ahabat Sholom and
Jewish Family Service of the North
Shore. He also funded the original Xray department of Lynn Hospital.
Charles Goldman served in the Navy
during World War I and was the first
Jewish attorney in Essex County. In 1911,
he founded the Lynn Young Men’s
Hebrew Association, now known as the
Jewish Community Center of the North
Shore. His wife, Marion, was a founder
of Temple Beth El and a director of the
Jewish Home for the Aged in Boston, of
which her mother, Gertrude Leavitt, was
one of the founders.
“I came from a family heavily
involved in the Jewish community,”
said Martin Goldman. “I had an early
indoctrination in volunteering.”
Born and raised in Swampscott, Mr.
Goldman is a graduate of Tufts
University and Boston University School
of Law, where he was editor of the Law
Review. He received a master’s in
taxation from Northeastern University
School of Law. He enlisted in the Navy
during World War II, joined his father’s
law firm in 1951 and served as an Essex
County assistant district attorney from
1954-59. His father passed away in 1967
and, a few years later, Mr. Goldman
moved the practice to Swampscott.
Active in the community, Mr.
Goldman has served as president of the
Jewish Community Center, Temple
Emanu-El and United Fund & Council
of Greater Lynn; chairman of the North
Shore Medical Center Cancer Walk;
member of the building committee for
Swampscott High School; and trustee of
the Agganis Foundation. He served as
Town Moderator of Swampscott for 21
years, stepping down in April 2010.
Mr. Goldman and his wife, Maxine, a
former teacher and special education
specialist who now volunteers as a tutor,
raised four children, Nancy, Robert,
Betsy and Jeffrey – three of whom
followed their father’s footsteps and are
practicing law. In addition to working
full-time, Mr. Goldman continues to be
an avid golfer, skier and gardener.
14 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
JAMES LEO MCGUINNESS
Old-school
values of
friendship,
family, faith
amily, friendship, and faith were the
guiding forces that influenced James
Leo McGuinness in both his personal
and professional life.
Mr. McGuinness, who died at the age of 76
in 1990, served as Lynn’s superintendent of
schools for 13 years, from 1970-83, including
the turbulent years after the passage of
proposition 2½ in 1980 and the resulting
teacher layoffs.
“They weighed very heavily on him,” said
his daughter, Kathy Wilkins. “He hated
seeing young people losing their jobs.” Judy
Olson said her father also took it to heart
when a bitter dispute turned into a teachers’
strike and teachers ended up in jail.
Family was foremost. James Leo and Mary
McGuinness, who died in 1994, were married
for 53 years and had seven children and 27
grandchildren, several of whom serve as
teachers and guidance counselors in the area.
Besides Olson and her husband, Jeff, and
Wilkins and her husband, Wayne, the other
children include: James Leo McGuinness Jr.
and his wife, Judy; Richard McGuinness and
his wife, Maureen; Mary Ellen Connelly and
the late Tom Connelly; Patricia Henkenmeier
and her husband, Hank; and Michael
McGuinness and his wife, Mary.
Service to the community was another
hallmark of Mr. McGuinness’ life. He
belonged to the Valladolid Council of the
Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of
Hibernians, and honored his Irish heritage as
a founding member of the Friendly Knights
of St. Patrick. After serving in the Navy
during WWII, he became active in veterans’
affairs. He also loved sports, working as a
football official for 20 years.
During his tenure as superintendent, Mr.
McGuinness excelled at learning to work
with different mayors, and later served on the
School Committee. “I think he loved the
politics of the job,” Olson said. “That was
the Irish in him.”
Every year since 1991 a student at each
Lynn public high school has received the
James Leo McGuinness Scholarship. To date
$52,000 has been awarded.
“He was a people person, first and
foremost,” said Olson. “People still come up
to me and say how much they miss him.”
F
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 15
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
MENINNO CONSTRUCTION
Nick Meninno of Meninno Construction was featured in the department of Community Development’s 1990 calendar.
Family has built a lasting legacy
family business is different
from IBM. Longtime
employees become part of the
family, and the business itself becomes
an integral part of the community.
Nicholas Meninno left Grotto
Minada, Italy, in 1921 to come to Lynn,
leaving his wife, Nicolina, behind while
he settled here. It would be seven years
before they would reunite.
While working in the waste paper
business, he began Meninno Construction
in 1932, building houses, doing carpentry,
masonry and odd jobs out of his home.
Nicholas and Nicolina had four
children: Theresa, Lillian, and twins
Gloria and Anthony Nicholas.
When Anthony Nicholas “Nick”
A
Meninno joined the business in 1953, it
became N. Meninno and Son
Construction Co. Nick and his wife,
Peggy Grant, had six children. Two went
into education: Dr. Cheryl Meninno,
director of special education for Lynn
Public Schools, and Jill Guerriero, a
special education teacher in Lynnfield.
Three joined the family business: Nick
and Anthony “Scott” Meninno as
president and vice-president, respectively,
and Debby Regan as treasurer. Wendy
Hayes owns Rolly’s Tavern in Lynn’s
Wyoma Square.
A fourth generation came aboard in
the spring of 2010 with the arrival of
T.J. Regan, the grandson of Nick
Meninno.
The business was located in family
homes until relocating to a small garage
on Spencer Street in West Lynn in 1968
and in 1980 to its present home at 76
Oakville St. Meanwhile, the business also
expanded to include homes and
renovations, as well as commercial work.
Meninno Construction has plowed
city schoolyards for more than 40 years,
and built the city’s concrete sidewalks
for 20 years. The firm has also been
doing site work since Nick Jr.
convinced his dad to purchase an
excavator in 1984.
Nick Sr. is semi-retired, but can
usually be found somewhere in the city
still drumming up business for the
family firm.
Through the years, the firm became
known for its integrity, the quality of its
work, and its commitment to the city
and its employees. It has given back in
many ways, including supporting the
Lynn Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc.,
numerous baseball leagues, city schools
and the Lynn Special Needs Camp.
“My dad has always said: ‘Lynn’s been
good to us. We should give something
back,’” said Debbie Regan.
Nick Sr. dedicated his life to his
family and to building Meninno
Construction into the successful
business it is today. His legacy is one of
a successful businessman, and
wonderful husband, father and
grandfather.
16 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
JOHN NERICH
John Nerich, second from left, was an extra in a movie starring Peter Falk.
He served others in a variety of ways
ohn and Jean Nerich’s six
children – John, Lisa,
Christine, James, Timothy and
Mark – watched and learned as they
grew up in Lynn. Helping others,
they found was part of being a
member of the community.
Mr. Nerich, who died in 2001, left
his family a legacy of charitable
endeavors and community service.
His family, friends and strong
Catholic faith came first, but he had
many other loves.
He served his country with four
years’ active duty in the Air Force
and 28 years in the Air Force
Reserve, retiring as a master
sergeant. He worked his way up in
the entertainment business, starting
as an usher and manager at Lynn
theaters before going on to manage
the Meadow Glen Twin Drive-In. Mr.
Nerich eventually became a regional
J
manager for National Amusements.
Politics was another great love. He
worked as a commentator for Lynn
election coverage on WLYN radio and
Time Warner Cable. “He loved the
election season,” said Lisa Nerich,
assistant superintendent for parks and
recreation in Lynn.
Mr. Nerich found many other ways
of helping his neighbors and
community through the Lynn
Kiwanis Club and the Lynn Youth
Commission. “He loved the city of
Lynn,” said his son, John. “He was
passionate about it.”
Mr. Nerich was a graduate of
Sacred Heart School and a lifelong
member of Sacred Heart Church. He
and his six children graduated from
St. Mary’s High School. He served as
the head coach of the girls varsity
basketball team and as a member of
the athletic board. Mr. Nerich was
always finding ways to help St.
Mary’s through the many fundraising
efforts that helped stabilize the
school in the 1980s.
Mr. Nerich’s charitable work was
extraordinary. He was Chief Barker
of Tent 23 for Variety Children’s
Charity of New England, which
worked in conjunction with the
Jimmy Fund. He also served as vice
president on the International Board,
a charity that he served honorably for
more than 30 years.
Mr. Nerich found the perfect partner in
Joe O’Donnell of Boston Concession
Group, founder of the Joey Fund.
Through Variety Children’s Charity Gold
Heart program and the theatre industry,
money was raised to provide financial
support for families battling Cystic
Fibrosis, and support CF research.
“He had a big heart, a golden
heart,” said Lisa Nerich of her father.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 17
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
NORTH SHORE LABOR COUNCIL
The North Shore Labor Council’s advocacy for union workers includes walking the picket line when necessary.
Laboring to protect workers’ rights
or more than a century, the North
Shore Labor Council – and its
predecessor, the Lynn branch of
the American Federation of Labor – has
served as the voice for working men and
women throughout the North Shore.
The formation of Lynn’s first labor
council dates back to around 1900. It
primarily served the private sector
employees of the local shoe factories and
building trades. In 1955, the American
Federation of Labor (AFL) merged with
the Congress of Industrial Organizations
(CIO) and officially chartered the North
Shore Labor Council. Since the 1960s,
the council has seen an increase in public
sector representation.
Today, the North Shore Labor Council
is a coalition of nearly 50 local unions,
representing more than 18,000 members
and their families, from teachers to
F
electricians, nurses, public employees and
utility workers. It is part of the
Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the state’s
largest labor umbrella organization
dedicated to achieving a better quality of
life for the Commonwealth’s working
families.
The council’s main goals include
supporting a working family legislative
agenda; partnering with community
organizations that share its vision of
social and economic justice; educating
and training leaders to take on challenges
in the workplace; improving the
communication between unions; and
providing aid, cooperation and assistance
to local unions. Delegates of each
affiliated union organize to support local
struggles and meet monthly to discuss
community issues.
“We talk about the issues affecting
individual unions and working people in
general,” said North Shore Labor Council
President Jeff Crosby. “Topics range from
healthcare to salary negotiations to which
elected officials we should endorse. There
are difficulties that individuals face that
can’t be solved alone. We try to work
across unions and with non-union people
to build relationships and coalitions.”
Crosby has served as president of the
council since 1992. In that time, the
council has launched annual events such
as an education conference, summer
picnic and legislative dinner, which has
featured political leaders such as the late
Sen. Ted Kennedy, U.S. Rep. John
Tierney and former House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi. The council has also
worked to increase its female
representation in recent years. Women
now account for at least 40 percent of
membership and the council has launched
a Women’s Committee, which meets
monthly, and an annual Women’s
Solidarity Breakfast.
Most recently, in partnership with the
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational
Safety and Health, the council opened the
Worker Center for Economic Justice,
which aims to build the power of lowwage immigrant workers on the North
Shore to organize for safe, decent and just
working conditions.
With an office located on Exchange
Street in Lynn, the North Shore Labor
Council serves: Beverly, Lynnfield,
Rockport, Boxford, Manchester, Salem,
Danvers, Marblehead, Saugus, Essex,
Middleton, Swampscott, Gloucester,
Nahant, Topsfield, Hamilton, North
Reading, Wakefield, Ipswich, Peabody,
Wenham, Lynn and Reading.
18 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
-
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
JOHN L. O’BRIEN
A career
marked by
good deeds
ohn O’Brien learned about politics at the feet of Lynn
masters of the game, getting his feet wet during the
mayoral campaign of Thomas P. Costin Jr.
And once he established he knew how to play the game,
he turned his talents in another direction: making the
Southern Essex Registry of Deeds one of the best registries
in the country.
Mr. O’Brien’s career has been about being one of
youngest, first and best. He was only 19 when he
announced his candidacy for the Lynn City Council and just
20 when he won the Ward 6 seat in 1971. The youngest city
councilor in the city’s history served three terms.
In 1976, he became the first Democrat and the youngest
elected register of deeds ever in Southern Essex, and is
now the longest-serving register in county history.
“I was swept in on the Jimmy Carter tide that year,” Mr.
O’Brien recalled.
His work at the registry over the past 34 years has
garnered a plethora of awards, including:
two Computerworld Smithsonian awards for the
visionary use of information technology by a government
or nonprofit organization;
the Banker & Tradesman 125 award for making his
office the first deeds office in the nation to provide
document images and indices online free of charge 24
hours a day;
the National Association of County Recorders Elected
Officials and Clerks Public Official of the Year award for
using technology to service constituents, the only register
in history to receive it.
“We were able to put property records dating back to
1634 online,” Mr. O’Brien said.
It hasn’t been all roses. Mr. O’Brien fell short in a bid
for the mayor’s seat in 1991, but has served the city in
other ways, as a member of the Lynn Democratic City
Committee, a founding member of the Lynn Conservation
Commission and board member at Project COPE.
He is proudest of the culture he and his staff have
cultivated at the registry, where the first words visitors hear
is: “How may we help
you?”
Mr. O’Brien, 59,
plans to run for one
more six-year registry
term in 2012.
“The public, as
always, will let me
know if I’m doing the
job,” he said.
J
John O’Brien, left,
received the Smithsonian
Award in Washington,
D.C., in 1999. Right, he
gets the news that he
has been elected
Register of Deeds.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 19
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
PANAKIO ADJUSTERS
Louis J. Panakio and his late wife, Marcia, enjoyed golfing together.They were married for 53 years.
Celebrating a well-adjusted life
ecognized for his warmth and
personality, Louis J. Panakio
Jr. has emerged as a positive
force in a business so often centered on
tragedy and personal loss.
“There isn’t a person who meets him
who doesn’t immediately like him,” said
his daughter, Lisa Panakio Rowe,
referring to him as Sweet Lou. “He has
the ability to relate to the person’s
circumstances and use his experience
and expertise in making the best out of
bad situations.”
Mr. Panakio has been the driving
force for the present day Panakio
Adjusters, which has been in existence
in Lynn for more than 70 years and is
operated today by Lisa and her husband,
R
Attorney Harvey Rowe Jr.
Growing up in the Brickyard
neighborhood of West Lynn, Mr.
Panakio was one of two children. A
graduate of St. Mary’s High School and
St. Michael’s College, he intended to
pursue a career in medicine, but joined
the Army during the Korean War.
Following the war, he joined his father,
Louis J. Panakio, in the adjustment
business. His father had emigrated from
Italy at age 7, settled in Lynn, found
work as a contractor and later formed
his own construction company. Using
his expertise as a builder and a
developer, the elder Panakio began
helping friends and associates with
various insurance claims and eventually
started Panakio Adjusters on Munroe
Street in downtown Lynn. It is now
located on Washington Street. When his
father died suddenly, at age 56, Mr.
Panakio was left in charge.
“When I took over, I was only a kid. I
had to grow up awfully fast,” said Mr.
Panakio. “But it’s a fascinating
business. I said I’d only do it for a
couple of years and 53 years later, here
I am.”
Panakio Adjusters specializes in
maximizing insurance settlements for
clients who own or rent residential and
commercial properties and are insured.
“We go into people’s homes after
fires, accidents, natural disasters and
hopefully provide them with a happy
ending,” he said.
The Great Lynn Fire of 1981 was a
particularly memorable time for Mr.
Panakio, who handled millions of
dollars in losses due to the tragedies
inflicted on the city and its inhabitants.
Mr. Panakio also served on the Lynn
Board of Appeals for 43 years, spanning
through six of the city’s mayors, and is
the past president of the Massachusetts
Association of Public Insurance
Adjusters.
Throughout his life, he has been
devoted to his family and his love of
golf. He was frequently at the top of the
leader board in local tournaments at
Tedesco Country Club, Salem Country
Club and beyond.
20 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
D AV I D L . P H I L L I P S
A career noted for public works
avid L. Phillips was only 34
when he was elected mayor in
1973, a time when the nation
was faced with an economic recession.
Although he may have been considered
young to be the chief executive of the
city, he was able to draw upon seven
years of municipal work experience as he
took office in 1974.
Phillips worked as a city planner
staring in 1966. In 1968 at the age of 29,
he was appointed commissioner of
Public Works, the largest municipal
department in the city. Public works
services at that time included the related
functions of engineering, streets, snow
and ice control, wastewater collection
and treatment, water supply and
distribution, solid waste management and
sanitation.
D
Phillips reorganized the 350employee department and introduced
some innovative management concepts
that were later adopted by a number of
other communities. Some examples
included the use of pavement
reclamation in street reconstruction,
solid waste management advances, citywide computerization, environmentally
cost-effective solutions for wastewater
treatment, and a direct filtration process
for the city’s drinking water.
Based on these relevant
accomplishments and encouraged by
others, he decided to run for mayor in
1973. After a spirited preliminary
campaign, he topped the primary vote
and faced off in the final election
against the incumbent, Mayor Tony
Marino. In a closely fought contest,
Phillips prevailed by only a few
hundred votes out of nearly 32,000 cast.
There were many challenges awaiting
Phillips as he moved into the mayor’s
office. His administration first had to
concentrate efforts on creation of a new
Arson Squad to address a problem that was
especially prevalent among rental housing
units, the value of which had decreased due
to mismanaged rent-control program.
Phillips’ administration also worked hard to
provide needed elderly housing.
Under Phillips, the department of
Community Development was created
and charged with addressing issues such
as the development of the waterfront,
submitting grant applications for new
schools, and obtaining federal funding
for environmental and educational
mandates, parks and recreation, and
other infrastructure.
After Marino won a mayoral rematch
in 1975, Phillips returned to the field of
public works, as he and his wife,
Virginia, raised four children. Phillips
served in various administrative
capacities for the next two decades.
More recently, Phillips returned to
the private sector, working for an
internationally known environmental
engineering firm. He has undertaken
many management efficiency projects
for many communities throughout the
country in assisting them to become
more competitive.
He has also published three books,
including “Enlightenment,” which
outlines how government can become
more efficient and was based, in large
part, on Phillips’ Lynn experiences.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 21
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
JAMES O. SPINNEY
He was a
polished
businessman
rom a young age, James O. Spinney had an incredible
sense of entrepreneurial vision, coupled with integrity,
passion and drive.
Mr. Spinney, who grew up on Flax Pond in Lynn, launched an
industrious newspaper route at age 9, growing the route to 300
homes and passing it on to his younger brother, Donald. He
attended Lynn English High School and earned scholarships to
play hockey at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H., and
St. Lawrence University. After college, he launched a successful
real estate and development business.
In 1972, Mr. Spinney acquired George J. Kelly, Inc., a
struggling shoe polish factory that was established in Lynn in
1900. He acquired the business from
Kelly’s widow, who retired at age 90.
He quickly turned losses into profits
and actively sought government
contracts. Kelly’s 30 products,
including polishes, cleaners and
dyes, were sold through distributors
to shoe stores and shoe-repair shops
throughout the U.S., Canada, the
Philippines and Korea. By 1984, the
factory’s annual profit margin was
more than 15 percent.
Mr. Spinney and his wife, Noel
Spinney-Costin, also owned and managed the Edgehill
Apartments in Nahant, a complex of 42 units that Mr. Spinney
had converted from a former historic inn. Following Mr.
Spinney’s sudden death at age 54 in 1989, Mrs. Spinney-Costin
continued to manage the property until she sold it in 2006. The
Kelly’s brand was sold to Fiebing, a manufacturing company of
leather and horse care products in Milwaukee.
Mr. Spinney’s four daughters, Pamela, Wendy, Susan and
Allison, grew up working on the factory’s assembly lines during
high school and college, gaining an up-close view of their father’s
work ethic.
“The company slogan – ‘the whole world over, Kelly’s
outshines them all’ – is also true about my father,” said Pamela
Spinney Duncan. “He outshone them all. He was the best
husband, father, son and friend anyone could hope to have. He
knew what he wanted to accomplish and he worked as hard as he
could to do so. His energy was boundless.”
“He instilled in all four of us the drive to give back, do our best
and never shy away from hard work,” said Wendy Spinney Smith.
“He had a vision and plan for everything. He was generous, kind
and encouraging – not only to us, but to his employees.”
“One of the most important things I learned from my father
was to work hard and always be honest,” said Susan Spinney
Hooper. “He set his own high standards and was a man of great
strength and character.”
“My father was both a friend who taught me compassion
through listening to others and a mentor who taught me grace and
humility through his actions,” said Allison Spinney Russell.
“Even though we lost him at a young age, the legacy of James
O. Spinney lives on through his children and grandchildren,” said
Noel Spinney-Costin.
F
22 — CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
ROGER L. VOLK
By all accounts, a successful businessman
or Certified Public Accountant
Roger L. Volk, a more fitting
definition of CPA would be
charismatic, personable accountant.
An integral member of the Lynn
business community for more than 45
years, Mr. Volk is founder and
president of Volk, Kittredge &
Company, (formerly Roger L. Volk &
Company), a financial consulting firm
at Seaport Landing on the Lynnway.
In an otherwise cut-and-dried field of
numbers, he goes about his daily work
with an unusual zest for life.
“I’m not shy. I like to have fun, and
if you love your work, then you can
enjoy your whole day,” said Mr. Volk.
“That’s what life is all about.”
F
In addition to his work in the
accounting field, Mr. Volk hosted a
weekly radio program, “Financial
Survival with Roger Volk,” on WRKO
and WEEI for more than 20 years and
is a seasoned public-address
announcer at all Swampscott High
School varsity football games. He
spent 15 years as an assistant dean
and professor at Suffolk University
and has also served as a member of
the faculty at both Boston University
and Harvard University. He has been
the keynote speaker at numerous
seminars conducted by the Internal
Revenue Service throughout
Massachusetts for more than 30 years.
Born and raised in Swampscott, Mr.
Volk was president of his class at
Swampscott High School. His father,
Benjamin, owned a corrugated box
factory in Lynn and his mother,
Charlotte, worked as a teacher in
Lynn.
“Growing up, I wanted to be a
professional golfer, but my father told
me, ‘Nice try Rog, but you’re going to
college,’” said Mr. Volk, who went on
to earn his bachelor’s degree in
accounting from BU, his master’s in
business administration and education
from Suffolk and his doctorate in
education from the University of
Sarasota.
He launched his career as an
accountant at KPMG in Boston and
opened his own firm on Mt. Vernon
Street in Lynn in 1965. He later
moved the business to Seaport
Landing. Earlier this year, he received
the 2010 Five Star Wealth Manager
Award from Boston Magazine. He was
also listed as Five Star Top Scoring
Tax Specialist. Fewer than seven
percent of the wealth managers in the
Boston area were selected.
Mr. Volk resides in Swampscott
with his wife, Elaine, whom he
married after the death of his first
wife, June, in 1988. He is the proud
father of two, Melissa and Jeffrey, as
well as three stepchildren, Andrea,
David and Jason, and is the proud
grandfather of eight.
CELEBRATING LYNN’S LEGACIES — 23
C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
L E G A C I E S
D E B O R A H S M I T H WA L S H
She works
for the
common good
ometimes important events spawn political
careers. Deborah Smith Walsh decided to get
involved in the PTA at the Aborn School after the
devastating cuts to the Lynn school system forced by the
passage of Proposition 2½ in 1980.
Mrs. Walsh won election to the School Committee in
1981 and served until 1991, except for a two-year blip
when she unsuccessfully sought the Ward 2 council seat.
Some told her that the smaller stage of the School
Committee wouldn’t translate into citywide support, but
in 1991 she earned an at-large seat on the City Council,
where she became known for her ability to take apart
municipal budgets and find savings, or preserve programs
that were being cut, until better times came.
“I loved my years on the
City Council,” she said.
She is proud of her work
on the Southeast Asian Task
Force, and serving as a
voice for nonprofits. Over
the years she has served on
many boards including
EDIC/Lynn, the Lynn
YMCA, My Brother’s
Table, the Lynn Business
Education Foundation, and
Family and Children’s
Services.
Daughter Marissa and
son Steven were involved
in her campaigns – son
Joseph is a musical theater
director in London – and Mrs. Walsh was delighted when
her retirement from the council in 2003 came just after
Steven was elected to the first of five terms as a
Democratic state representative from Lynn. Marissa now
works in book publishing in New York City.
Mrs. Walsh also drew on the advice and support of her
husband, Coley Walsh, a longtime advocate for
Democratic causes and a lobbyist whose clients include
the American Federation of Teachers.
Her successes became the blueprint for other female
politicians to follow. In a meeting of the Massachusetts
Commission on the Status of Women in 2002 at Girls Inc.
in Lynn, then-Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy told those
assembled: “There is no better role model or advocate for
girls than Deborah.”
Mrs. Walsh said her vision of public service is best
summed up in a quote from Sister Corita Kent, the noted
activist/artist: “To be truly alive is to work for the
common good.”
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C E L E B R AT I N G
LY N N ’ S
LEGACIES