THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 13, 2020 Page 19 Officer Nichols wants to work til he’s 70 Special Town Meeting backs elder cop’s proposed legislation to be exempt from mandatory retirement By Mark E. Vogler eteran Saugus Police Officer Kevin Nichols got hugs and handshakes in the second floor auditorium of Town Hall on Monday night after a Special Town Meeting voted 29-12 to back his bid for state legislation that would allow him to work up to age 70. Nichols, who has worked 37 years for his hometown Police Department – the last 20 as the department’s fleet maintenance mechanic – was smiling as a number of Town Meeting members and town officials congratulated him. The overwhelming vote V would, if approved by the state legislature, add five more years to his law enforcement career. ASKS | from page 18 lose support. So through this process and through the six months, I have gone through two pairs of sneakers. Q: Do you have any personal connection to the Boston Marathon bombings? Like, lost a friend or relative? A: I don’t. Q: What cause will you be running for this year? A: I’m running for Samaritans. Q: Have you been to Boston Marathons in the past? A: I’ve been to many Boston Marathons. Q: Any fond memories of past Boston Marathon memory? That would be as an observer. A: I really enjoy, not necessarily the elite runners, but the people who are challenged by this marathon. And they cross that finish line with the biggest smile on their face. And we’re seeing people in wheelchairs cross that finish line and paraplegics and people who are blind. And it just goes to show you how humbling this experience can be for people far and wide, cheering everybody on. And I think it’s those people – when I feel like I’m complaining a little bit – I tell myself that these are the people crossing that finish line. Q: After running a Boston Marathon, what will you do the next day? A: Of course – I think everybody’s first reaction – they’re probably going to sleep and eat. But, you know, the unfortunate part of all of it is that I’m running for somebody I lost, so going to the cemetery would be on my list of things to do for the next day. IT’S GREAT TO BE APPRECIATED: Saugus Police Officer Kevin Nichols is happy he got Town Meeting support of proposed special legislation to continue working for his hometown Police Department. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) But even as he smiled with satisfaction over the vote, Nichols was hoping for a betQ: Have any friends or family members run this race before? A: Yes. I’ve had friends. I’ve had family members run one other marathon; but never the Boston Marathon, so I will be the first from my family to do so. Q: Anything else that you would like to share about this experience? Maybe you would like to talk a little bit about Teddy and the cause you are running for. A: Yes. If people aren’t familiar with Samaritans – their mission is to reduce the incidence of suicide and, of course, by reducing suicidal feelings. They offer 24-7 life crisis services. If I have done anything in this process, it’s to raise money and awareness to keep nonprofit organizations like Samaritans around, because without the money and without the fundraising, they are unable to network and outsource and to give people what they need to survive. If the money I raise puts a face to Teddy’s name and we can remember him, and if what I raise saves one life, then I feel like I have done my job. Q: Do you do any volunteer work for Samaritans? A: We raise money every year with the 5K race. We have kind of decided as a family that after this marathon, we will find one way – I don’t think I would be capable of doing the call services – – but some way to volunteer with them because now I feel like it’s going to be a part of me forever. Q: How old was Teddy? A: Teddy was 41. Q: I guess he was a very close cousin? A: Yeah, Teddy was really more like my brother. I saw ter outcome. “I’m more disappointed that my own voted OFFICER NICHOLS | SEE PAGE 20 him twice a week. We went to lunch twice a week. That’s a void I don’t think can ever be filled. Sometimes with suicide, we put a stigma around it, and we’re embarrassed, but I don’t think Teddy would want me to think like that. Q: Anything else that you would like to share about this race, the Samaritans or Teddy? A: I would just like to say – whether this race happens or not – I am fortunate enough to have already raised $16,000, so I just want to thank everybody for their generosity, their support. And – I definitely want this in there – that I can never bring Teddy back. But what I can do with my life is to live life with a purpose. And that’s exactly what I plan to do. And I would like to share a little bit about Teddy. He loved photography, was an amazing caretaker and was an avid cook – gifts he shared with everyone in his life. As a Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation [DCR] State House Ranger for more than two decades, Teddy continually went out of his way to keep people safe, whether at work or in his personal life. If you’d ever visited the State House, you probably knew Teddy and his smile, larger-than-life personality and willingness to help in any capacity. These are, sometimes, the people you would least expect to take their own life; and the people who most need our help. On average, there are 129 suicides a day in the United States, with the highest rate among white middle-aged men [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data & Statistics Fatal Injury Report for CONGRATULATIONS: Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jean M. Bartolo hugs Saugus Police Officer Kevin Nichols after he received backing at Monday night’s Special Town Meeting for special state legislation that could prolong his police career to age 70. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) 2017]. On May 5, 2017, my cousin tragically became part of this statistic. For, underneath the smiles and pranks, Teddy suffered a pain that none of us could see – a despair that grew following the death of our beloved grandmother and culminating with the death of his dear friend and long-time colleague, Debbie. Teddy’s death was shocking to all who knew him. As a family, we continue to struggle with this profound loss. Through my own journey of grief, I have found myself in a place where I can use this experience to help others, to raise money and awareness for something bigger than myself. Back in 2017, I set out to run my first half marathon. As one of my biggest supporters, Teddy pledged to meet me at the end with his camera. But this was a promise he wasn’t able to keep, and the finish line felt sadly empty that day. Now I run for Teddy, my family, for suicide prevention and for mental health awareness. I know in my heart that Teddy will be by my side for every step of these 26.2 miles. Q: And if this year’s Boston Marathon is cancelled? A: Four of my teammates all said, “I plan to be there April 20. We trained for it.” And I had a friend ask me this morning, “Are you upset?” I said, “Yeah, I did all of this training.” And then the friend said, “But your marathon is not cancelled. They may have cancelled the Boston Marathon. But you can still run.” Some of my teammates, they have already booked Airbnbs and they’re going to run it anyway. I’m considering it. For me, it’s not about the medal at the end. I have two wonderful sponsors. I don’t see why not. I’m trained for it. I’m in condition for it. And knowing my cousin, I don’t see why not. —Anyone interested in sponsoring Stephanie Jandrys can go to her fundraising link at https://charity.gofundme. com/o/en/campaign/samaritans2020/stephaniejandrys.
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