'You made him smile': Volunteer retirees share time, talent with community

DEDHAM – Why is it some retired people "take" to volunteering?

"Everyone who does this has a reason why; they get something personal out of it," Cris Goldsmith, volunteer coordinator for the Norfolk County RSVP, said last week. In giving, they get much more back.

The occasion was the annual recognition luncheon for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of the Norfolk County Commission.

The event, under a large white tent on the spacious lawn of the Endicott Estate, was a happy reunion after two years of COVID separation. Volunteers shared stories, humorous anecdotes and their gratitude for opportunities given them.

Mal King, 77, of Stoughton, retired from running a toy business and followed some business advice he took to heart: "You should never turn down a chance to go someplace and meet someone."

King drives veterans to medical appointments and has found the people he drives also "deeply appreciate" visits on the back porch, running errands, sharing adventures. At the wake of a genteel elderly man with dementia, the family told him, "You made him smile."

"That's why we do it," King said.

"I realized the people we help don't have the mobility or freedom they were used to. … They are dependent on someone else, and that can be very debilitating. My goal is to make them feel they are part of the game again."

When Muriel Savoy Moloney, 92, of Weymouth, retired from banking, she volunteered, and former co-workers would ask her, "Why do that when you can get paid?"

"People just don't realize how much better it makes you feel and all the different things you can do for other people," she said. She sings with the Weymouth Elder Services' choral group at nursing homes.

Walter Vetromile, 86, of Walpole, has been an "ambassador" at the West Roxbury VA Medical Center four or five days a week since 2014. He began by wanting to be helpful, then "I realized how important our volunteer work was when suddenly I was starting to like and love the veterans we serve."

Volunteer Edna Sullivan, of Quincy, grew up in an Italian family in Boston's North End.

"When I was a child, everyone was brought up to help people," Sullivan said. She has put in 7,248 hours of service.

She has volunteered at the American Red Cross in Quincy and Weymouth since 2010, at Quincy Medical Center from 2010 to 2014 and at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton from 2015 to 2020.

At age 93, Martha Colamaria is regarded as "amazing" by her RSVP peers. A retired Norwood teacher, she helped start the town's English as a second language program and has volunteered 10,000 hours over 26 years. Her service includes the former Norwood Hospital, the Friends of Norwood Library, the Norwood Food Pantry, delivering books to veterans in hospitals and as a Friendly Visitor.

"I was one of nine children and I grew up in an era when caring for neighbors and friends was common," she said.

"Frankly, without your perseverance over the past two to three years, many RSVP community service activities would simply not have been possible," coordinator Goldsmith said.

Drivers who helped veterans get vaccinated and reach life-saving dialysis and radiation treatments, despite the risks of COVID, were especially critical.

More drivers are needed; supplements are available to help cover the cost of gas.

RSVP volunteers also rose to the challenges in the elementary schools. Many trained to use Zoom to help students at home with math and reading – "vital one-on-one personal connections at a time of isolation," Goldsmith said.

Norfolk County Commissioners Peter Collins, of Milton; Joseph Shea, of Quincy; and Richard Staiti, of Canton; county treasurer Michael Bellotti; and President Joe Biden expressed thanks.

"The American story has been strengthened by those who combine an optimism about what can be, with a resilience to turn that vision into reality," the president wrote in his letter.

"By sharing your time and passion, you are helping to discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face. We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love – hope for our futures, light to see our way forward and love for one another."

Five volunteers received President's Lifetime Achievement Awards for 4,000 or more service hours: Edna Sullivan, of Quincy; Martha Colamaria, of Norwood; Patricia Gagnon, of West Roxbury; Manijeh Moshiri, of Randolph; and Walter Vetromile, of Walpole.

The awards are sponsored by AmeriCorps.

Volunteers receiving service awards included: Donna Cady and Maggie Costello, of Weymouth, 100 hours; John King, of Quincy, and Irene Bosworth, of Weymouth, 250 hours; and Donna Chapman, of Quincy, and Carol Pratt, of East Weymouth, 500 hours.

Also recognized were:

Braintree: Janice Canty, Jim DiRocco, Dawn Spano, Liz Sullivan, Lucy Tsirelson, Dixie Dunajski.

Quincy: Barbara Lombardi, Rosemary Hoxie, John King, Wafa Lavelle, Linda Rioux.

Weymouth: Carol Pratt, Muriel Savoy Moloney, Judith Briggs, Beverly Cohen, Irene Bosworth, Jim Charam, Mary Fallon, Bernice Filaccio, Brad Hultman, Mary Lee, Janice Lundin, Annette Marini.

You can reach Cris Goldsmith at 781-234-3447, and Robert Pierson, RSVP director, at 781-234-3445 or check the website.

Correction

The Seaside Gardener who arranged the Art in Bloom flower display beside a painting by Marshfield Senior Center artist Grace Rinaldi was Jaclyn Robinson. The gardener was incorrectly identified last week.

Reach Sue Scheible at sscheible@patriotledger.com. 

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Norfolk County RSVP volunteer retirees share time, talent in community