THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 16, 2022 Page 3 A Founders Day Salute Saugus honors Thomas Sheehan and Laura Eisener with “person of the year” award By Mark E. Vogler ternoon in front of Town Hall. “The Town of Saugus SaN o living person in Saugus has written more words about the history of his hometown than 95-year-old Saugus historian and book author Tom Sheehan – a Charlestown native – who came to Saugus in the second grade and developed a great passion for reading and writing: mostly about Saugus people, places and events. The 58 books he’s written have focused on his favorite subject – Saugus. Few native Saugonians have done as much over the last decade to promote the history of Saugus as Laura Eisener, who has served as president of the Saugus Historical Society over that time. Even in her weekly column – “Saugus Gardens,” which appears in The Saugus Advocate – she incorporates some town history about the trees, plants and flowers around town and the people who grow them. The two Saugus High School graduates have dedicated untold volunteer hours collectively to spotlight the town’s history while working for the betterment of Saugus. Last Saturday (Sept. 10), the town embraced Sheehan and Eisener as this year’s winners of the “Person of the Year” award” during the 41st Annual Saugus Founder’s Day Celebration. “In Recognition to Your Dedication to the Town of Saugus. This Award Truly Exemplifies the Outstanding Ideals and Spirit of Our Founding Fathers,” reads the inscription on the plaque presented to each recipient during a special ceremony held during early aflutes You … 2022,” it declares. Sheehan and Eisener are the latest of 60 Saugus residents who have been honored at Founders Day, going back to 1989 when the award originated. Since 1993, a man and a woman have received the recognition, which had been presented to male citizens during its first four years of existence. Each year past winners meet to recommend and choose new recipients. Several of the past award winners sat in chairs on a wooden stage set up at the bottom of the steps at Town Hall where the presentation was made. This was the first time in three years that the awards have been presented as past recipients didn’t meet last year or in 2020 because of health concerns over COVID-19. Introducing Thomas Sheehan Peter Manoogian, a 2018 “Person of the Year” award recipient, introduced Sheehan. Here are some highlights from his speech: I have been asked by my colleagues on this stage to introduce the 2022 Saugus Man of the Year – Mr. Tom Sheehan. Age 95.5, born in Charlestown and lived at #3 Bunker Hill Avenue – came to Saugus in the second grade. His grandmother was a bookbinder for Ginn & Company. She brought home books that were to be discarded due to flaws. As he describes it, he had a voracious appetite for reading at a young age. He would read anything he could get his Thank You for your vote of confidence in the primary election. I look forward to your support in November. Terrence W. Kennedy GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL 2022 Founders Day Heroes: Thomas Sheehan and Laura Eisener. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) (Paid Political Adv.) hands on, including Shakespeare. When he moved to Saugus, he lived on Lincoln Avenue towards North Revere. He attended the Cliftondale School until the sixth grade and fondly remembers having been taught by Marleah Graves, of whom the school is now named for. He graduated from Saugus High in 1947, attended one year of prep school before joining the service. From 1950 to 1952 he served in the army as a Sergeant in Korea. Between 1948 and 1956, he would work parttime at the Saugus Iron Works restoration site. He worked alongside the chief archaeologist and actually helped unPERSON OF THE YEAR | SEE PAGE 4
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