Eric Montefusco, a member of a prominent Chelsea family, retired Friday, Aug. 21, after an outstanding 40-year career in the Chelsea Housing Authority.
Montefusco is stepping down as the maintenance foreman, a position he held for the past three years. Eric is the husband of City Treasurer Patrice (Paradis) Montefusco, with the Paradises being another longtime name of distinction in the city.
He retires as the longest-serving employee in the history of the agency.
“It’s been a good run – 40 years,” said Montefusco. “I’m going to miss it. I gave the job everything I had. You know inside when it’s time to go. The maintenance shop has been like a second family. We’re brothers. I think I will miss the camaraderie of my co-workers the most.”
How his career began
Montefusco said in 1986, state officials determined that the Chelsea Housing Authority was short five maintenance employees.
“At the time, I was working the night shift with other Chelsea kids at Raffi and Swanson making paint,” recalled Montefusco, who was 20 years old. “I saw an ad in the Chelsea Record and I went and applied for one of the positions. With a recommendation from Frank DePatto, Executive Director Conrad Benson hired me as a groundskeeper/custodian. My pay was just about ten dollars an hour. Richie Trimarchi, Eddie Cole, and Billy Moore Jr., and Vinnie Clark were also hired at the same time.”
Montefusco earned a series of promotions, advancing to groundskeeper/mechanic to straight mechanic, to mechanic/painter before elevating to his current role as maintenance foreman.
Where did Montefusco acquire his mechanical intelligence and technical aptitude?
“I just learned from working at the Authority and working with my father a lot,” said Eric. “And the guys above me – Mike Manoogian, Jimmy Vahey, Donnie Waite, and others – really taught me well.”
Montefusco worked under the leadership of former CHA executive directors Conrad Benson, Robert Nason, Mike McLaughlin, and Al Ewing, and current CHA Executive Director Paul Nowicki and eight maintenance directors.
Speaking about his professional, working relationship with Nowicki, Eric said, “I love Paul. He and I grew up together. With Paul, it’s all maintenance first. Anything we need, he gets us. He makes sure that the sites are looking great and everything is operating at their highest level of efficiency. And the city manager, Fidel Maltez, has been great to the Housing Authority.”
A Chelsea kid who had a wonderful childhood
Eric grew up on Lash Street in Prattville alongside the Kyes, Hurton, and Richard families.
“The Moschellas were up on Murray Street. On Hancock Street were the Cappellos, and on Sagamore Avenue were the Tomaszewskis,” he remembered. “But Lash Street back then was the street to be on. We played hockey, football, everything. It was great because the only people who drove down the street were residents. I had a wonderful childhood.”
Eric is a product of the Prattville and Williams Schools and a 1984 graduate of Chelsea High School. He is married to fellow Class of 1984 graduate Patrice Paradis, whose parents, William Paradis Sr. and Betty Paradis, left an incredible legacy of coaching and volunteerism, especially in Chelsea Little League, along with other youth sports organizations.
“My wife and I have been together since 1986, the year I got the job at CHA,” said Eric. “We were in the same homeroom for four years. I was a jock and she was a brilliant student. We got married in 1981 and have two children, Samantha, 31, who works at Home Depot, and Scottie, 26, who is the sports coordinator at the YMCA in Marblehead. He went to school for sports management.”
A proud son and brother
Eric had the honor of playing in Chelsea Little League (on the Orioles) for his coach and father, Sam Montefusco, who would take over as league president for several years, contributing so mightily to the league following the passing of Earl Ham.
“Rick Henry was our assistant coach,” added Eric, who was a two-time All-Star.
Eric also played in Chelsea Youth Hockey under the commissionership of Robert F. Moschella Sr. Mr. Montefusco also assisted in Youth Hockey after Mr. Moschella said the program needed coaches.
“My father said to Mr. Moschella, ‘I’ll help you, Bobby.’’’ remembered Eric.
He was a standout player in Chelsea Youth Hockey that once had more than 200 participants.
“I started skating when I was three years old,” he recalled. “I played for the Mites and went all the way up to Bantams. I have great memories of our trips to Canada.”
Eric continued in varsity hockey at Chelsea High School under head coach John Zimini in the Greater Boston League.
“The GBL was very tough back then and Arlington won it every year – every time we played them, they would play “Another One Bites The Dust,” even during warmups,” said Eric, who was teammates with Artie Caissie, Robbie Connors, Richie Cippolone, Kevin Kyes, and Dennis Bankus. “Chelsea needed a goalie in our senior year and because I had played that position in street hockey, I moved over from defenseman.”
Eric is also the son of Priscilla (Weidner) Montefusco and the younger brother of Ellen Montefusco Benson and Karen Montefusco Buckley.
“My mother and father were awesome. I couldn’t have asked for better parents,” said Eric. “Through everything, growing up, they were always there for me. I had a very nice childhood. Whatever the family needed, my parents provided. My father and mother had a boat, and we used to go to Lake Winnipesaukee every year. Before we got married, Patrice and I traveled with my parents to Niagara Falls. My grandfather, Chester Weidner, was tremendous. We once drove to Canada and visited the Hockey Hall of Fame. He used to call me the Walrus. And I just love my two sisters. They have been very supportive to me throughout my life. They’re great aunts to my kids. And I was there the night my nephew (Brian Benson) scored his 1,000th career point at Pope John High School. We all came out for that achievement.”
A tribute to Eric fromCHA Director Nowicki
As a former All-Scholastic athlete, Nowicki understands the importance of teamwork and commitment in building a successful organization. Nowicki offered profuse praise for Montefusco’s experience and knowledge, citing the importance of those attributes and his contributions to the CHA.
“Eric has been a fixture here at the CHA for 40 years and one thing that has never changed is his commitment to the job, to his fellow maintenance team and to the CHA,” said Nowicki. “Even though Eric is a few years older than I, this is no surprise, knowing Eric for over 40 years playing youth hockey and Little League and then high school hockey with my brother, Scott.
“Eric and his family have always been involved with the city in a positive way starting with his late father being a former president of Little League.
“Eric, as the maintenance foreperson at the Housing Authority, has been my eyes and ears in communicating with residents and preventing and solving issues that has allowed for work to be completed without a delay. That is a big credit to Eric and his institutional knowledge, hard work and passion for the CHA. He will be missed, and on behalf of the residents and CHA staff, I say thank you, enjoy and best of luck on your retirement,” concluded Nowicki.
Eric Montefusco celebrated his 60th birthday on August 20. His family, friends, and colleagues honored both his birthday and his retirement in a tribute to his outstanding career and lifelong contributions to the city he loves.