THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 19, 2025 Page 3 A Founders Day Salute Saugus honors Nancy prag and Eugene Decareau with “person of the year” Awards By Mark E. Vogler N ancy Prag credits her late mom — Ruth Mohr — for her decades of dedication to environmental causes to help keep her hometown clean and green. She called Mohr “a true volunteer and environmentalist” — one of the original members of SAVE — Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment, which is now in its 52nd year. “Growing up in Saugus, I was often dragged along to pick up trash, take photos of trash and document polluters of trash,” Prag, now in her early 60s, recalled last Saturday. “Thanks to her, I learned early on that caring for your community starts with rolling up your sleeves,” she said. Eugene Decareau, now in his early 90s, is a lifelong Saugus resident from Mohr’s generation. He has spent more than half of his life volunteering in a wide range of causes that have led to the betterment of his community. Decareau was once a director of the YMCA, a Little League coach and a Cubmaster for Troop 62. He’s also served as a member of the Friends of the Saugus Senior Center, the Saugus Food Pantry and the Saugus Veterans Council and has been active with the Saugus Lions Club for more than half a century — once serving as its president. Last Saturday (Sept. 13), Prag and Decareau sat on a makeshift stage set up near the front steps of Saugus Town Hall, where they were honored at the 44th annual Saugus Founders Day with the 2025 “Person of the Year” Awards. Decareau “dedicated to volunteering” “Our Person of the Year was employed at the Eastern Tool Company most of his life and retired many years ago,” said Janice Jarosz, the 2008 “Woman of the Year,” in a short speech introducing Decareau. “Not to be sidelined, he quickly became dedicated to volunteering in his beloved Saugus, and his resume is quite impressive,” she said. HONORED GUESTS: Nancy Prag and Eugene Decareau displayed their “Person of the Year” Award plaques after a Founders Day Ceremony in front of Town Hall last Saturday. Joining them were selectmen, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and members of the state Legislative delegation. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Jarosz noted that “for several days each year, you can fi nd him in front of the Town Hall, collecting funds for the Lions Club Eye Research project.” “In his spare time, he bakes cakes and pies from scratch and often donates them to fundraisers, and special community functions. He even made a command performance on Saugus Cable TV station demonstrating and sharing his ‘Secrets of a Well-made Pie’!” she said. In her speech, Jarosz noted that Decareau was born in Saugus, attended local schools, was elected Vice President of the Saugus High School Class of 1948 and was a standout football player on the Sachem team that won the State Championship. After graduation, Decareau signed up with the US Army and became an assistant instructor in Military Weapons and Tactics at West Point, New York. “On one visit home while on leave and dressed in his impressive Army uniform, he was outside on his front yard and happened to notice a beautiful girl who lived right across the street,” Jarosz said. “After this encounter, he told his buddy about this beautiful girl. His buddy then bet him fi ve dollars that in no way would he ever get a date with her.” “Not to be discouraged, he persisted and eventually that beautiful girl across the street said yes, and she has been sayA rare opportunity for first-time homebuyers to own an affordable condo in Malden! o own an affordable Affordable Homes for Sale in Malden! omes alden!!n!ldeenalden omes alden! ome Scan QR to apply APPLY ONLINE OR IN PERSON How to apply www.tndinc.org 4 Gerrish Ave Rear, Chelsea, MA 02150 Applications also available by mail or email. WHO CAN APPLY: First-Time Homebuyers Meet income & asset limits (see AMI chart) Assets must be under $75K for 80% AMI households. Assets must be under $150K for 100% AMI households. Restrictions Apply – Units have resale and use restrictions Questions or Accommodations? Call Winn Management: 617-884-0692 | TTY: 800-439-2370 CHECK INCOME LIMITS & PRICES BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE Please note: Deadline: Must be postmarked by October 2, 2025 mes 5 Newly Built Affordable Condos rdable Condos AVAILABLE BY LOTTERY pply APPLICATION PERIOD: Dates July 7, 2025 - October 2, 2025 INFO SESSIONS Where: Malden City Hall August 5, 2025 6PM September 4, 2025 6PM Lottery Date Thursday, October 16, 2025 (Attendance not required) ing yes to him for the past 72 years. Unfortunately, his buddy passed away before he could collect on the bet, but he did win the heart of that beautiful girl,” she said, referring to Arlene Decareau. “Once he completed his service to our country, he came home, married that girl and moved just three homes up from his parents’ home, where they still reside today. They are the parents of three sons and several grandchildren.” Decareau has also been active in local government, serving on the Saugus Board of Appeals and also as Town Meeting member. Today, he maintains membership on the Retirement Board. Prag “is deeply committed to her community” Shirley Bogdan, the 2010 Saugus “Woman of the Year,” introduced Nancy Prag. “She is a lifelong resident of Saugus, where she was raised alongside her two brothers, Phil and Warren, by their mother, Ruth,” Bogdan said. “Other than a few years spent in neighboring towns, she has always called Saugus home. She and her husband, Scott, settled in East Saugus after getting married, where they raised their daughter, Jenny, now an English teacher, who also attendFOUNDERS DAY | SEE PAGE 15 272 Cross Street LLC and Winn Management do not discriminate because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, handicap, disability, national origin, genetic information, ancestry, children, familial status, marital status or public assistance recipiency in the sale or transfer of apartment units, buildings, and related facilities, including land that they own or control. 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