Letter to the Editor

On Retirement

Dear Editor,

After his last regular season game, Big Papi commented about retirement, “It’s something we all have to do”. I have uttered those words often as I retired from CAPIC on October 31, 2019. Retirement is not just leaving a career, its leaving a lifestyle. After 48 years of maintaining a vigorous daily schedule, the sudden change of routine is immense. The people I would see every day and have come to call a second family are absent…the space I occupy is different, the travel modified and the attire now casual. Even though I continue to work part time developing low income housing alternatives, the change is still huge.

Those who have retired on a planned schedule, perhaps due to mandatory age requirements or illness, may experience less impact, but maybe not…When we work to perform public service its because of a desire to help humanity. We don’t count the hours, nor look at the calendar, except of course to confirm the next meeting. Even our ability to influence change is altered., so it seems. The challenge of making numerous daily decisions is different as well and that maybe the greatest impact. The relief from that pressure is not absorbed easily! One might think that it is beneficial to be relived of responsibility and pressure, but not so. If you are designed to lead and make decisions, it doesn’t end on retirement, it just changes location.

I believe the best transition in this case is to continue service in another capacity. Some retirees travel, or relocate; some spend more time with family and friends and some just fade away, never to be heard from again. For some, the direction we take is premised on a belief that God has a plan for our lives, yes even after retirement. But what about that plan? How do we know what to do next? Well, its really quite simple. There are limitless people who are in despair and we can be the answer to their cry for help, if we look closely and listen. The reality is that we have resources and wisdom gained from those numerous years of work. Its now time to apply those resources to give others hope and opportunity that life holds promise and happiness.

That brings me to give thanks to God for blessing me, guiding me through the hardships of life and placing me in a position at CAPIC that could make a positive impact on so many people from Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop over 48 years. I want to thank the CAPIC Board of Directors and amazing Staff, both present and past. I owe particular gratitude to my mentors: Ed Greenberg, Arthur Cayon, Arthur Angelo, Emerline Cromwell, Rose and Virginia Mikaelian, Homer Platt, Leo Robinson, Ed Lubin, Tom Kerrins, Bill Reinstein, Robert DeLeo, Paul Glazier, Eleanor Clark, and of course my Dad Anthony Repucci who taught me that generosity was more important than receiving and that sacrifice was to be embraced as the tool to securing success.

Today, the CAPIC organization is in the capable hands of Executive Director Richelle Cromwell, who brings with her a family legacy of public service. She is led by an amazing Board of Directors who understand the needs of the communities and share her legacy of commitment and experience. I sincerely wish the best of success to past, present and future comrades who are commissioned to see that fairness and equality prevail.

Robert S. Repucci

Semi-retiree

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *