Longtime substance abuse counselor at Pathway House, John Cardinal calls it a career
GARDNER – A “legend” in the local recovery community is calling it a career.
John Cardinal has been a counselor with the GAAMHA’s Pathway House program for over two decades, serving as the program’s lead substance use counselor for the past 10 years. He worked his final shift on Thursday, June 23, during which is coworkers and former clients celebrated his efforts to help those struggling with addiction and alcoholism.
“When I came in today, they had a little party for me downstairs, and lot of people I had helped were (calling in) on Facetime – people from all over, even from Hawaii – and it was a little emotional,” Cardinal said. “It really means a lot, because recovery is like a family.”
Like many of those who work at GAAMHA, Cardinal, who grew up in Fitchburg and Leominster, started his relationship with the organization as a client, not an employee. When he first arrived at GAAMHA, he had just been released from prison, was barely able to read or write, and was fighting his own battle against addiction.
“My situation was really serious,” Cardinal explained. “I had run away from home at a young age, I was in and out of foster homes, and I got involved with drugs and alcohol. It was chaos.”
After a relapse, Cardinal finally found sobriety at Pathway House, a 27-bed residential recovery program for men, in 2000. He said he chose to enter the program because he knew he was quickly running out of options.
“I knew I had three choices left: spend the rest of my life in jail, change or death,” he explained. “So, I tried change – and I’m still here.”
Cardinal became an employee with GAAMHA in 2001, obtaining a high school diploma while working his way up from entry level positions to eventually becoming a case manager and counselor. He credits the staff at Pathway House, especially former CEO Sybil Arguijo, with providing him with the strength to help others find sobriety and pursue an education.
“There were times when I wanted to give up, but I all I could think was ‘(Sybil) did this for me and I’m not going to give up on her,’ and I followed through,” he said. “But everybody here helped me – the directors, the staff, and the counselors.”
Cardinal said he recommends the Pathway House program to anyone who is ready and serious about getting sober.
“I’ve seen miracles here,” he said. “And I’m one of them.”
Shawn Hayden, chief operating officer at GAAMHA, said Cardinal’s story is a perfect example of how one person can change his path and dedicate himself to using his past struggles to help others find their own road to recovery.
“(John) played a vital role in saving my life and thousands of other men like me,” said Shawn Hayden, chief operating officer at GAAMHA. “On top of that, he’s one of the nicest, funniest, and most unassuming guys you will ever encounter.
Kevin Waterman, program director at Pathway House, said Cardinal had been an inspiration for many in recovery over the past two decades.
“He’s been a counselor for 21 years, which is very rare. Normally, in this field, counselors get burned out in five years,” Waterman explained. “He’s definitely a power of example to the recovery community and the Pathway House. We love the guy.”
Cardinal said he plans to keep his connection to GAAMHA, even during his retirement. After taking several weeks off this summer, he said he would likely work part time at the Carl E. Dahl House, GAAMHA’s 115-acre equestrian estate at Evergreen Grove in Gardner.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Longtime Gardner substance abuse counselor John Cardinal retires
