Photo Gallery
Reminisce with this collection of images of Mayor Menino from our archives. Or email your own photo to share with the Menino family. Please feel free to share your memories below.
Reminisce with this collection of images of Mayor Menino from our archives. Or email your own photo to share with the Menino family. Please feel free to share your memories below.
Thomas M. Menino 1942-2014 
172 Responses to “Share Your Memories”
Dear Ms. Angela and family,
My sincere condolences. Your husband, father and family member was loved by so many. God bless you. We will miss him, too.
Mayor Menino was the best of the best. Those blue oval signs that welcomed visitors to our neighborhoods. Beautiful flowers that line our streets. Recycle bins for all neighborhoods. Camp Harborview.
And so much more. He was real, true and sincere. He was a doer. He cared about the people and our city. What a fine example of what a person who
represents the people should be. Thank
you Mayor Menino for caring for us all. Rest In Peace.
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Mayor Menino was a great man and leader. A true public server, an angel. He changed Boston so much. He is and will be my role model. He was truly warrior. For me he was a dad. I had the pleasure to meet him a few time as a student. He recognized my academic achievements in 2000 and in 2010. It really makes me sad that we have lost such an influential person in our community, but he will be still with us. Menino influenced the city and the people, and we will continue to demonstrate and do what he wanted for Boston. I look at everything in Boston, and everything shows Menino. RIP to the greatest man with love.
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Sending love and support to your family from ours – Mayor (Tom) and Angela meant the world to our parents and the entire Italian community at the Sons of Italy in Roslindale. Tom made such a presence at our father’s retirement party at the Pleasant Cafe pronouncing his special day in Boston and naming the day after him… he knew how to make everyone in Boston feel special at the right time… a true gift.
Thank you for sharing him with all of us – may he rest in peace.
God Bless
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Words cannot express how I am feeling . So many memories of the small moments, which seem to be the ones that come to mind so quickly today. God knows, we had our battles, but there were many laughs too! It was an honor to work for you for 20 years, but an even greater honor to call you a friend. You have left us much too soon. Rest easy, my friend. You live on in our hearts forever. My prayers are with Angela, Susan, Tommy, Bill, Lisa, and the grandchildren. For those of us who worked on the Fifth Floor, for many years, we all remember the famous ” Who cares” response to all kinds of proposals, presentations,etc. You cared, Mr Mayor, more than anyone will ever understand! Thank you, Menino family, for sharing him with this Great City.
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I loved the Who cares? comments, because, you are right, he really did care.
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Thank you for creating opportunities for our inner city youth, reaching out to them in a way no mayor had previously done.
Thank you for staying true to yourself and to our great city.
Thank you for your service to City of Boston.
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Thank you Mayor Menino for all that you did for Boston, you made such a difference,in so many lives, We will miss you
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I met The Honorable Mayor all over the city, I’m from Back Bay, but the last time I met him was of all places, The Pru, just a regular with a staff person, maybe shopping, in what I always saw “the grey suit” – Will always remember him that day.
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Thank you Mayor Menino for, among many many things, making peace with Boston-born writer Edgar Allan Poe and for building the new statue at Boylston & Charles Streets in his honor.
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I feel HONORED to have met Mayor Menino – such a humble and just all around great man! He may no longer be with us now, but he will surely live on through all the lives he has touched and changed in so many ways. Boston will always think of you and miss you very much!
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Mayor Menino had been wonderful to my family. I have family members who work for the city of Boston and have a great aunt who worked for Menino directly. He was always around when a family member had passed on and he even made it to my own mothers funeral in 2002. As I had been reading a passage up at the podium at Saint Francis De Sales in Charlestown, I looked up and saw the mayor in the back of the church. He really was one of the people, for the people. He was always around. Rest in peace mayor. I will forever remember you.
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Mayor Menino was truly a special human being and an outstanding Mayor. His leadership, honesty and integrity made Boston and its neighborhoods what they are today. We will never forget his dedication to Boston and its residents. His service to our city was second to none and his legacy will endure forever. Thank you Mayor Menino for all you have done! We convey to the Menino Family our sincere condolences and may he rest in peace.
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Mayor Menino was such a great man who has done so much to help our city. He cared for the people of Boston, and showed support throughout the many different parts of the city. I met him many times throughout middle school, and high school. His sincerity and compassion for kids was outstanding as well. When my daughter was about to head into kindergarten, he stopped to talk to both my kids as he was entering the Children’s Museum and even snapped a few quick pictures. It is so sad to see that the only mayor I have ever known is no longer with us. While his shoes are definitely too big for anyone else to fit, I believe his lasting impression on his city will live on forever. Rest In Peace Tom Menino, your memory will live on forever.
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I worked with Councilor Menino during his years on the Council and have so many fond memories of those days. He was the Councilor who took the young staffers under his wing, asked for their ideas and actually valued and often times used them! He also made the work fun, field trips to Filene’s Basement to add to his tie collection, dinner “through the tunnel” at Santarpios, Thursday morning breakfasts at the Bostonian hotel during budget season to review the week ahead.
He was one of a kind and we shall never see his like again, but he leaves an imprint on the city that will be felt for generations. To Angela, Tommy and Susan, thank you for sharing him with us.
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I Never thought it possible to be touched in such a big way by a public figure. My prayers go out to the Menino family.
I know our hearts are heavy in the Price household.
I pray that God will grant you perfect peace during this extremely difficult time.
I hope you can find consolation in the fact that Mayor Menino was loved by so many.
My grown son came home from school and said I have to get a shirt with Mayor Menino on it. Thank you for sharing this wonderful man with the city of Boston. I Can say from my heart; there will never be another Mayor Menino. RIP We Love You! 😢
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Thank you for changing my life… from a Boston Public School kid… to a young professional who stayed local to give back… to a young woman wanting to help save the world – and leave my city better then when I came into it. Thank you for coming to my grandmother’s funeral when I was 7. You made my mother smile, that was my first memory of you and I will never forget that moment. Thank you for handing me a school award a few years later, then a hug when I was valedictorian. Thank you for coming to my work’s fundraiser in Dorchester and supporting our efforts. Thank you for offering an extended hand and opportunity when I had been laid off, thank you for listening to the concerns of my community every single day. Thank you for your advice, your strength, your service and dedication. We will miss you everyday, you are in every tree, every skyscraper, every school bag, every rainbow flag, every time someone becomes a citizen, in every corner of this City. Thank you to your family for sharing you. We love them for every moment we love you. Your children and grandchildren are heroes to us all. Thank you Mayor. Thank you for giving your life for our city.
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Ode to Thomas M. Menino
Grand Mayor of the City of Boston
Sadness and grief
Engulfing the city like a big black cloud
That has come to say goodbye to its giant among men.
The cloud brings tears and betrays all fears
Of a life left in suffering and pain.
To a city, a state, and a country he led,
Wanting the best for those in his care.
We honor this man of compassion and vision.
A man who shaped the city the way he wanted.
Not a person left out of his outgoing ways.
Not a youth left not believing in his or her self.
Not a neighborhood left to its previous state.
Not a person left out of his so, so large heart.
His place is above the clouds, the sun, the stars and the moon.
He has reached the land that all have been promised.
He basks in bright light, receiving all that it gives.
He rests in his new peace-filled world.
He is full of gladness and joy.
Someday the sun will shine once more.
We will live his message of hope for us all.
We will not forget him. He lives in our hearts.
This man, he gave us the best of his all.
Cathy Slade
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Boston has lost a champion…its residents have lost a friend. And as we look around this beautiful city, we see his lasting legacy. Peace to Mayor Menino and his family.
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Mayor Menino was the best mayor ever in Boston and theres no one that could ever replace him. He was true to his city(Boston) and he wasnt just the mayor but he was boston always reaching out to the people in the city working around the clock. We love you Boston strong my condolsences go out to his family and friend and to us here in Boston.
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‘If to leave this world be as real as to love it—then there must be a meaning in the meeting and parting of life.’ – Rabindranath Tagore.
Good bye Mayor Menino. We will dearly miss you.
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I want to give my sincere condolences to the Mayor Menino’s family his wife his kids and his grand children thank you for sharing him with us he was a great man I had the honor of meeting him some years ago I was sitting in a restaurant in grove hall and he came in and shook my hand and said hello personally to me and I was so proud of that moment I will never forget it I also got to come to one of his block parties he used to have in front of his house. He will be truly missed by Boston we will always love you mayor menino REST IN PEACE you are now in God’s care. Love always Vanessa Dobson and Family.
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Feel like a lost a friend. Rest in peace our beloved Mayor Menino…the only other person I believed might love Boston as much as I do. You inspired me to go into public service, and I hope to be mayor of Boston one day myself :). Your commitment to neighborhoods, the people, and to preserving the character and the unique class of Boston– all are what I admired most. I was hoping/looking forward to working with you this year at BU, but I guess I’ll have to wait — maybe we can build a Boston in the clouds someday.Thank you for your endless love and dedication to our City.
We love you.
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Mr Menino did some wonderful things for the city of Boston – it was such a joy recently to visit awhile ago after many many years away from Boston to experience the “new” part resulting from the big dig. To see him out there following the marathon bombings moving to say the least. Working with juvenile justice in another state, it was inspiring to see what could be done to bring down crime rates – more places should follow the examples of Boston’s programs. And he did it all with such joy, spirit and sense of fun.
Rest in peace Sir – and may your family find peace and joy in their memories of you…
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Thank you, Mayor Menino, for your staunch support of immigrants in the City of Boston. You led by example and put Boston on the map as a welcoming and inclusive city to all.
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Mayor Menino:
A great man – who loved his city with care, compassion and commitment. Your legacy is the people you have served, and the communities you have built throughout Boston. Peace !.
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I had the opportunity to work on many events for Mayor Menino over the years and have too many memories to put here. His incredible energy reformed the city of Boston into the place it has become today.
One of the best memories is the friendship he had with Jack Leary. When Jack died, Mayor Menino was there for my family throughout that horrible time. Despite all the other issues he had to deal with the kindness and warmth he extended to all of us will never be forgotten during those incredibly tough days.
Our deepest condolences to Angela and the entire family and thank you for sharing the Mayor with all of us.
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For all of your hard work and your love for our city…Thank You!
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The Home for Little Wanderers joins many others as we say goodbye to Boston’s longest serving Mayor Thomas M. Menino. He never forgot us and we will never forget him or the difference he made in the lives of those we serve.
Mayor Menino was a great friend and advocate for the children and families, as well as staff, of The Home for Little Wanderers. Through his generous support in both time and effort, The Home has been able to invest in the future of our youth and expand our network of services which will allow some of the Boston area’s most vulnerable children to thrive and succeed. Mayor Menino never forgot our kids. He was always there whenever we needed him and for whatever the cause. He was there for the preparation and openings of our Roxbury Village program for youth who have aged out of state systems of care and our Harrington House group home on Mission Hill. And, he always made a special holiday visit – with a present he’d chosen with one of his grandchildren – to our Toy Room when it was in Jamaica Plain. Just last Fall, Mayor Menino joined us as we celebrated his longstanding contribution to Boston by visiting and making a special donation to The Thrift Shop of Boston which gives 100% of its proceeds to The Home. The Thrift Shop is located in Roslindale Village, the gem of the Mayor’s Boston Main Street Initiative.
As has been said, Tom Menino loved Boston and Boston loved him back. He will be missed greatly by all of those whose lives he touched. And those of us who loved him, and ache with his passing will continue to fulfill his commitment to helping children in need. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela Menino, their children and grandchildren. May God Bless Mayor Tom Menino.
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As a late 20-something, Mr. Menino was the only Mayor I ever knew until recently, and my childhood includes many memories of him at events around town. One of my favorite memories, that has grown fonder as I’ve grown older, is of Mayor Menino throwing out the first pitch of the Beacon Hill/Back Bay/North End little league season every spring. It really made our little league seem like the bigs, and made us as 8-12 year olds feel really special. There was nothing like lining up on the first and third baselines while the Mayor(!) strode to the mound to toss out the first pitch to a lucky catcher from one of the teams. It was so special, knowing how busy he must have been, that the Mayor would take time out of his day to walk over to the Common and kick off a local little league season. For that generous act, and so many others, I will always have fond memories of Mayor Menino.
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May you rest in peace. My husband and I are taken by the passing of a wonderful, personal, loving, gentleman that carried the city of Boston for 20 years. He certainly did change Boston for the good. It was a sight to see him when he stood up and gave testimony to the Boston Bombing at the building that he was in. He was a strong man in his heart and mind, with a smile that if you were down and out on a particular day, and you saw his face on TV, or live, his smile would lighten up our days in a magnificent way. He is gone but he will never be forgotten. In our hearts and also in the streets of Boston. God Bless his family and may the Lord comfort all of you in this time. He is “Boston Strong”” and always will be.
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Mayor Menino was a force that made Boston better, to a great extent in his image. Boston can honor him by staying true to the principles he used to steer us toward reconciliation, fairness, neighborhood improvement, lower crime, school quality, bicycling, community policing, environmental responsibility, equality and human decency. None of these were anywhere near perfect, but as I saw it, he did a darn good job. If there’s an afterlife, Tommy Menino will be getting off his bike after enjoying a perfect ride down a version of Hyde Park Ave where the traffic is respectful, and putting down his feet in the perfect crisp weather in a place that looks an awful lot like a slightly better version of the city he saved, I think it’s fair to say, and loves.
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COMUNE DI GROTTAMINARDA ( PROVINCIA DI AVELLINO )
VIA ALCIDE DE GASPERI 83035 GROTTAMINARDA (AV)
The Mayor, The Municipal and Town Council, and the Community of Grottaminarda show their feelings of solidarity and closeness to the Menino Family and Boston Citizens for the death of
Mr THOMAS MENINO
Mayor of Boston, re-elected for five times
and they remember with pride the origin of his family in our town, the cultural exchanges and the well – established twinning of Boston and Grottaminarda for over 20 years, during the Municipal Government of the Mayors Francesco Flammia, Giuseppe Romano and Giovanni Ianniciello.
Angelo Cobino
Mayor of Grottaminarda
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Boston FINEST Mayor Thomas Menino.
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The city is so heavy with grief. Like so many, I loved Tom Menino and pray for him and his family. I have lived in Boston for over 40 years, working in the non-profit sector the whole time, and leading two organizations that support kids and families in our most stressed communities. The Mayor was a frequent visitor and I will never forget how he would immediately connect with the youth as well as being a true friend to the senior citizens. I had the great priviledge to sit with him and Angela at our most recent annual event in May as we honored him for all he had done for Boston. Our City not only survived during rough times, but flourished because of Tom Menino’s steadfast leadership. May he rest in peace. In some way, I feel he will always be looking over us.
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“Here’s what I see all across this great city – people working together to make Boston a better place to live and to raise children, to grow and pursue dreams.” – Mayor Thomas M. Menino
Whittier Street Health Center and President and CEO Frederica M. Williams wish to recognize in loving memory Mayor Thomas M. Menino for serving as a role model of integrity and leading Boston into an era of reverence. Mayor Menino created an infrastructure throughout the city filled with experts from health care, business, academic institutions, and the community, which made possible for organizations like Whittier to continue to champion equitable access to high quality, cost-effective health care and social services for diverse populations. He was a mayor that knew no bounds and only saw opportunity when faced with barriers. He is an inspiration to Whittier and our community. We deeply admired and appreciated his commitment to the communities we serve and his exemplary and selfless leadership.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his beautiful, supportive and loving wife, Mrs. Angela Menino, his children, grandchildren and extended family.
May you live on throughout Boston as an angel of courage, strength and compassion.
Thank you, Mayor Menino.
With great admiration, gratitude and respect for your exemplary and selfless leadership,
Frederica M. Williams, Boston resident and President & CEO of Whittier Street Health Center
The Whittier staff and the 26,000 Whittier patients who are grateful for your dedication to health and social disparities.
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Dear Angela,
A few years ago, you and your husband stopped in to my shop (Felicity Sweets) in Roslindale, on your way to dinner at Sophia’s Grotto. It was a sunny, warm, Sunday afternoon and you two were by yourselves, no bodyguards, just like any other folks. The difference being that you could feel the love between you. A smile never left your face. My shop was under construction at the time, but your husband made it a point to stop in and chat with me. His encouragement and pride towards reviving the city, one small shop at a time, was what he was all about. He took time out of a personal moment, to be kind and congratulatory towards me. I will never forget this day. I was so touched by his genuine caring and interest. His love for this City was prevalent in all that he said and did, and he touched so many of us with his kind soul.
I wish you and you family peace & comfort during this difficult time. I can only hope that all of the wonderful stories and recollections of your husband will bring you some sense of solace. Please know that his spirit lives on in many of us, one way or another.
Blessings,
Sarah Horton
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You along with your staff worked tirelessly to improve our beloved city. Your 20 years of exceptional service on the behalf of the entire city of Boston was unprecedented and will never be forgotten. Condolences and prayers to your family and may you rest in eternal peace.
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Da mayor was mensch.
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Mayor Menino was Mayor of ALL the people of Boston! He worked to protect Boston City Hospital/Boston Medical Center, he supported workers rights to organizie, and he truely believed in working people. You are loved and will be missed. I treasured your friendship. Celia Wcislo, Vice President, 1199SEIU
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Simply the best Mayor the city of Boston has had. May God bless his family and our city for its loss.
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Simply a well loved class act!! He will be missed.
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The staff and Board of Children’s Services of Roxbury express our deepest sympathy to the family of Mayor Menino. Like so many others, we remember him with an abundance of love and gratitude. His many acts of kindness, generous spirit, and extraordinary leadership will continue to bless the City of Boston and all of its residents for many decades to come.
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For over 15 years we lived on a street In Charlestown that the Bunker Hill Day parade marched. We had 2 adopted greyhounds and every year we would lay their beds on the sidewalk and watch as they enjoyed the parade. Mayor and Mrs Menino would come off the parade line EVERY year to pet our hounds. It was very special to us and in 2011 there was only one bed on the sidewalk as our girl greyhound had passed. Mayor Menino came off the parade line to ask me ” where is the other one?” An amazing man. I cry as I write this
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A poem for Mayor Menino written by a 12 year old Elizabeth called Happiness
As happiness fills the air,
Smiling faces are everywhere.
Peace is wandering around like a dove,
As a shimmering star is shining up above.
Hearts are filling all faces,
In many different places.
Mayor Menino received the ultimate promotion – from Boston to eternal life. How lucky we are to have him share his peaceful ways and wonderous works with us. How grateful we all are to know that he created Camelot for us. “Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot” There will be great Mayors again, but there’ll never be another Camelot again… Blessings to the Menino Family and all who loved Tom. He is our Commonwealth’s treasure and his messages of peace and co-existance should be an inspiration to us all. His legacy will live long after all of us have gone.
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I used to see Mayor Menino at the Pen Pal breakfast early in June at at the Timility School in Roxbury. We both had student pen pals for over 10 years. Over the years, we got to talk about our pen pals. He was such a down to earth person who had an amazing memory and called me by my name. I was so sad to hear of his passing this week. An extraordinary person who will never be matched in all that he did for education in Boston. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. May God bless you.
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My condolences to Angela and family; you will be in my thoughts and prayers. 😔
Psalm 30:5b “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (*KJV)
Thank you Thomas M. Menino. Thank you for everything you have done for minorities like me. And thanks to Angela and your family for letting us borrow you. You changed every life you touched, you are one of a kind and there won’t be any other like you. My first encounter with you was at my little sisters funeral 1995, you where there to give my mom and family support I thank you for that. I thank you for the many summers of opportunity you gave to me and my brothers as well as summer youth workers. Thank you for all your help year round. Holidays you made them especial because “YOU CARED” lost my dad a year ago on thanksgiving, now we lose the Greatest man of Boston. May you Rest in Paradise. Love you for everything that you’ve done for my family and others Thank you. Will miss you always.
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Mayor Menino- thank you for being a visionary leader and helping to shed the image of Boston as being intolerant to differences. As you often said, “this is NOT the Boston it used to be!” And you always supported your beliefs with your actions. You will be missed but your legacy will love on forever. Dr. Beverly Edgehill
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To Mayor Walsh and Mayor Menino’s family
As the world is lacking today more than ever true and trustworthy leaders, it’s such an obligation to recognize Mayor Menino as a unique inspirational model for cities leadership.
May his soul rest in peace.
With deep condolences to you and all Bostonians.
Montreal city counsel candidate
Wise & Expert founder
FEEL Canada founder
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I feel grateful to have moved to Boston near the beginning of Mayor Menino’s term. Having grown up and lived in Detroit, I longed for a city that was vibrant, run by someone who cared deeply about how it would best function. I found that here. Over the years, I am lucky to have had countless opportunities to see the mayor speak or meet him at various events. He was an honorable man with a vision – a mayor that was exactly as one should be: everywhere, all the time, with interest. Thank you, sir, so much for your service and for making Boston great. You will be deeply missed.
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Please pass on our condolences to the Menino family. Mary & Jim Dyer Roslindale, MA
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THE ORIGINAL BOSTON STRONG
As we we must stay on earth and endure our loss,
You gain Heaven as a prize- for a job done with honor and pride and always with those” twinkling eyes”,
…. for long ago a star was passed straight into your happy soul,
at that moment , through you, God’s work began,,
Touching even the most doubtful “doubting Tom” Bostonians.
Those who knew you or felt they did will line up for a final farewell-
perhaps they’ll sign a book, a card, and each will have personal stories to tell,
about the man who walked the streets- with no “bill of goods” to sell-
Just a firm resolve to make the city great- better than it’s ever been!
That goal was reached and far beyond- your own “World Series win”,
The days ahead will be long,
and tears will flow like the Charles,
but you’ll be in our hearts and still walking the streets-
THE ORIGINAL “BOSTON STRONG”
– with sincere condolences to your family and friends, Ashley Tenczar
Thank you Mr. Mayor…”FUEL THE DUCKBOATS!!!” (my favorite words of yours).
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