A Man For All Seasons

Dickie Donnelly (L) with coworker Steve Collins on Donnelly's last day

Richard Donnelly retires from The United States Postal Service

(Tribute I wrote to my good friend Dickie Donnelly as it appeared in The Arlington Advocate November 25, 2009)

Arlington, Mass. - You may have seen him on a summer afternoon pulling letters from the collection boxes on Court Street.

Or maybe he helped you carry that over-sized Christmas parcel to your car one icy December day. Perhaps he met you at the loading dock to assist with those heavy boxes as you sent your sons and daughters off to college in the fall, then welcomed them home in the spring.

Whatever the occasion or season, if you lived in Arlington during the past 20-plus years, you can bet Richard "Dickie" Donnelly has helped you connect with the people you love; helped you say hello and goodbye, collect and pay bills, and return things you never ordered.

And now, after almost 40 years as a mail handler, Donnelly is retiring from the United States Postal Service.

Donnelly began his career at Boston’s South Postal Annex in 1970, back when the cost of mailing a first-class letter was 10 cents. A dedicated employee, he showed his devotion during the Blizzard of ‘78; as snow piled up outside, and coworkers fled the city, Donnelly finished his shift before catching one of the last trains out, hiking the final leg home in a gale-force whiteout.

In 1988, Donnelly transferred to Arlington where he continued to perform his job at a high level. Distinguished by steady attendance and a team-first attitude, his is a record to be proud of. But there was more to Donnelly than reliability and production.

Every workplace has its go-to person. At the Arlington Post Office, that person was Donnelly. Lose your car keys? Donnelly will help find them. Need an up-to-date weather report? See Donnelly. Need to know if one of your coworkers is in today? Just ask Donnelly, he’ll tell you. With his kind heart and gentle nature, Donnelly was a friend to all who worked with him.

A popular employee is hard to replace, and after several failed attempts by coworkers to get Donnelly to change his mind, it became painfully clear that Richard Donnelly was no Brett Favre. His decision was final. He was retiring. But it gives those who worked with him great comfort to know he will still be out in the community performing his duties as a member and volunteer fundraiser for The Arlington Association of Retarded Citizens and The Arlington Food Pantry. He also plans to improve upon his already impressive bowling game and continue his regular workouts at Fitness First.

So remember, good citizens of Arlington, while you’re putting up those Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and birthday cards you display around the house throughout the year, chances are, Donnelly had a hand in delivering them to you.

And if you happen to see him as he runs his various errands around town, don’t hesitate to say "thanks" because, although he may seem shy at first, you just might end up making a new friend.

And take it from the people who know him best — his former coworkers — Dickie Donnelly is a friend worth having.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/news/lifestyle/x1682937998/A-man-for-all-seasons-Richard-Donnelly-retires-from-the-United-States-Postal-Service