THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 Page 3 Honoring a “Saugus Legend” Family of the late Dick Barry expresses thanks to Saugus Annual Town Meeting for voting to rename the Saugus Senior Center after longtime town government and community leader Editor’s Note: At Tuesday night’s (Feb. 16) Special Town Meeting, members voted unanimously to rename the Saugus Senior Center Building “The Richard Barry Senior Center,” in honor of the late Saugus resident’s contributions to local and community affairs over the last 50 years – particularly for the Senior Center. At the time of his death last October, at the age of 89, Barry was still serving Saugus as a longtime member of the Council on Aging, which he chaired for many years. The following is the letter which Barry’s daughter, Kathleen Capobianco, read to Town Meeting members on Tuesday night before they voted to rename the Senior Center after Barry. G ood evening, I am Richard “Dick” Barry’s daughter, Kathleen Capobianco. On behalf of my mother Eleanor and my siblings Maureen, Rich and Stephen I would like to start off by thanking the Saugus Board of Selectmen, Chairman Anthony Cogliano, Corrine Riley, Jeff Cicolini, Deb Panetta, and Michael Serino for voting to put forth the warrant to name the Saugus Senior Center the Richard J. “Dick” Barry Saugus Senior Center. It is fitting that my Dad’s fifty plus years of town service started in Town Meeting as a Precinct 10 town meeting member and the circle is now complete that Town Meeting will vote today on honoring his legacy by naming the Senior Center after him. Interestingly, one of his most treasured possessions was his gavel from when he served as Town Moderator. He was well versed in Robert’s Rules of Order and was a stickler for running a good meeting on time so I will try to be brief. Naming the Senior Center after my dad would be the utmost honor to end a lifetime of dedication to community service. My dad loved the Town of Saugus and the town of Saugus loved him. He has been called a “Saugus Legend” having served for 40 years in the elected offices of Town Moderator, Chairman of the School Committee, and on the Board of Selectmen. He then spent another ten plus years as Chairman of the Council on Aging. His civic contributions included Director of CYO, Member of Saugus American Little League, he was Grand Marshall of the homecoming parade for the boys who made it to the Little League World Senisce about the good old days. My father would be so humbled to have the Senior Center bear his name. As a family we could not be any prouder of all of my dad’s accomplishments and are so grateful to the town for this beautiful tribute. It would be our hope as a family that his name will live on as a person dedicated to his town and community and that upon seeing his name on the Senior Center, others will be inspired to follow in his footsteps. Thank you to all of the Town Meeting members for your consideration in this vote. SNOW BLOWER SALES, SERVICE & REPAIRS PROUD TO LEAD: The late Richard J. “Dick” Barry took great pride in holding a gavel while presiding over meetings – as Saugus Town Meeting moderator, Chair of the Saugus School Committee and chair of the Saugus Council on Aging. Barry also served as a Saugus Selectman. During a Special Town Meeting this week, members recognized his decades of public service and community involvement by voting to rename the Saugus Senior Center after him. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) ries in 2003, Director of Saugus High School Sports Hall of Fame, a church usher at St. Margaret’s, and a member of the Saugus VFW, Saugus Historical Society, Saugus Lodge of Elks, Lifetime Member of Saugus Knights of Columbus and the Saugus Italian-American Club where he might have been the only Irish member at the time. He became the friendly voice of the Saugus High Football games for over nine years. He worked selflessly to build the new Saugus Senior Center helping secure a $750,000 state grant to help offset the cost. The bench out front of the Saugus Senior Center bears his name as does a plaque at the Veteran’s Baseball field for all his years of involvement with town Little League. During his retirement he wrote the monthly article for the Senior Center Golden Spirit Newsletter and included a column for jokes. He was also President of the Men’s Club. His record of service to the community of Saugus is unmatched. Saugus is a better place because of the hard work, care and dedication of Dick Barry. He helped anyone who asked for his help and gave his time to causes he held dear to his heart. To this day when any of us say we are Dick Barry’s children, someone inevitably replies I know your dad from Little League, CYO basketball, town politics, the senior center – what a great guy. He was once quoted in the paper after being honored for the Community Service Award as saying “I could never be the one who sat on the sidelines. I was never good at practical things like fixing stuff around the house but I could handle finances and politics and speaking in public. I liked being involved.” He spent a good deal of his retirement golfing and participating in events at the Senior Center he helped build. He enjoyed emceeing many events and attending holiday parties there where he would sit with the new and old elected town officials and remiPickup/Delivery Available 1039 BROADWAY, REVERE 781-289-6466 781-289-6466 WWW.BIKERSOUTFITTER.COM WWW.BIKERSOUTFITTER.COM Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657
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