THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, April 19, 2019 Page 5 “My dad helped build this” A Saugus child beams with pride as he celebrates at “Topping Off” ceremony for new school By Mark E. Vogler L ast Friday was a special work day for John O’Donnell – one of the people wearing a hard hat at the construction site of the future Saugus Middle-High School. “It’s not every day that your kids get to see you at work and what you build on a daily basis,” O’Donnell said as he relaxed with his wife and three children after the “Topping Off” ceremony. O’Donnell, a Class of 2000 graduate at Saugus High School, is in charge of the plumbing for the new building going up at the site. “I went to the old school. And one day, my kids will go to the new school I helped build,” said O’Donnell, who has worked 16 years for E. Amanti & Sons, Inc., Mechanical Contractors. It was a special day for the O’Donnell children that they will remember years from now. Jenna, a first grader at the Lynnhurst Elementary School; Johnny, who is in the third grade at the Lynnhurst; and Jake, who isn’t in school yet – all A FAMILY AFFAIR: Left to right, rear row: John and Natalie O’Donnell, who both graduated from Saugus High School, enjoy the new school “Topping Off” ceremony with their children, Jenna, Johnny and Jake, last Friday. (Saugus Advocate Photos by Mark E. Vogler) got to sign the ceremonial last piece of steel to be installed. “It is a big deal,” Natalie O’Donnell said of her husband’s workday. “He’s doing the plumbing on the job that’s being celebrated today. And it will be cool someday that these kids might go to the school that their father helped build,” she said. Natalie, a 2001 Saugus High School graduate, shares a special connection to the site with her husband. “We met in high school,” she said. “And my parents graduated from Saugus High School, too.” Her dad, Anthony Barbanti, graduated in 1973. Her mom, Jean (Shea) Barbanti, graduated in 1974. BUILDING HER FUTURE: John O’Donnell, a Saugus native in charge of the plumbing work at the new Saugus Middle-High School, holds his daughter, Jenna, after last Friday’s “Topping Off” ceremony when the last piece of steel was installed. For a story on the ironworker’s tradition and more photos, see inside. History in the Cradle of America’s Iron and Steel industry The O’Donnell kids were pretty excited about the day, getting to watch adults make a big fuss over a 30-foot long, 1,500-pound steel beam that dozens of other kids, town leaders, and school officials got to sign before it was hoisted to the top. A colorful banner that proclaimed “Topping Off … An Iron Workers Tradition … Local 7” was fastened to the front of the beam. “It was fun,” Johnny O’Donnell said of the day. “I got to see my dad and sign the beam. My dad helped build this,” he said. Indeed, a special day for Saugus. It usually is when all the state legislators who represent Saugus show up for an event, along with all of the prominent town politicos. “This is really about the Iron Workers,” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said in a special salute to the men and women WITNESSING HISTORY: A crowd of fifth graders pose for a group photo after signing the beam with colored markers. BEAM OF ATTENTION: The Iron Workers Local and other hard hat–wearing workers involved in the construction of the new Saugus Middle-High School observed the traditional “Topping Off” ceremony last Friday when the final piece of steel was installed in the building, marking a new milestone in the project. who are building the town’s future halls of education. “I want to recognize the hard work of the Iron Workers Local 7. Without them, this doesn’t happen,” he said. The crowd was reminded often during the ceremony that they were watching something special unfold in the birthplace of the American iron and steel industry. “My father was in the first graduating class in 1956 of this high school,” Crabtree said of the current building. “This will help transform the way education is valued in our SIGNING HIS PLACE: A construction work uses a colored marker to autograph the beam. community. This is a tremendous credit to town officials. Today, we are all part of history. Thank you,” the town manager told the crowd in his closing remarks. DECORATIONS: A fir tree sets on one end of the beam and an American flag at the other end. * A Delta Dental Premier Provider Dr. Mario Abdennour, Dr. Bhavisha Patel, Dr. Priti Amlani, Dr. Bruce Goldman and team.
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