I will always remember, and cherish, the day I was prank-called by the Mayor. Mayor Menino was everything. He was different things to different people – serious, determined, generous, a friend, a foe, ruthless, engaged, impulsive, strategic, caring, wise, but above all - memorable for all he did for Boston. He was Boston. Mayor Menino was a neighborhood mayor. Every community was important. He was on the ground and in touch - always present, always working to envision and execute the building of a better City. But one thing Mayor Menino truly was - was very funny. Always a sharp wit and never without a sarcastic comment ready to make people laugh. But his sense of humor wasn’t just a reactionary, on occasion he would go on the offensive. I am lucky that one such time happened at my expense when I was just an intern working in City Councillor Maureen Feeney’s office in the summer of 2004. It is important to note that as an intern you are trained that when someone calls the office you have to get their name (correctly spelled), phone number, address, and the details of the concern they are calling about so you can either get to work on their issue or at the very least make sure the Councillor is prepared for their conversation with the constituent. However, on occasion you will get someone who calls the office who has no patience for staff and demands immediately to bypass the minions and go directly to the boss – whether they know the person or not. In these instances you are taught to politely get as much information as possible and let the Councillor know. One day, early on in my internship, the office phone rings – “Thank you for calling Councillor Maureen Feeney’s office. This is Dan how can I help you?” (in what I am certain had to be a very internish voice.) Before the last syllable came out of my mouth, a loud and abrupt voice launched, “IS SHE THERE?!?” Being a somewhat nervous new intern, worried about doing a good job – I fell back to my training determined to counter with a pleasant tone. “I am sorry, sir, the Councillor is in a meeting. Can I ask who’s calling and take a message?” On the other end of the phone, the voice, in a very fast and difficult to understand, tongue-twister sort of way, said, “WHO’S THIS?! WHO’S THIS?! THIS IS ATTORNEY SWARTZ FROM SWARTZ, SWARTZ, & SWARTZ - I NEED TO SPEAK TO HER RIGHT AWAY! TELL HER I AM ON THE LINE.” Now as a new intern, the nervousness hit a high. I knocked on Councillor Feeney’s door, “Councillor I am so sorry to interrupt but there is a very angry attorney on the phone demanding to speak with you right away. I tried to take a message but they won’t let me and they will not tell me what it is regarding.” Councillor Feeney replied, “What’s their name?” Admittedly sheepish, I said, “It was very difficult to understand but I think their name is Attorney Swartz from Swartz, Swartz, & Swartz.” Councillor Feeney laughs, looks at me, and says, “Ohhh Danny, that’s the Mayor.” I walked back to the phone and said, “Mr. Mayor. You got me good. Hold one second for the Councillor.” Mayor Menino will be greatly missed for all he has done for the City of Boston. He cared so much about doing the job he loved well, not for himself, but for others. He worked 20 hours a day for 20 years. He took his job serious but not himself. He may not have been as he put it, “a fancy talker” but that made people love him even more. And during this time, while we hear story after story of towering political instincts and accomplishments, I think it is also important to remember that he loved being Mayor and every step along the way it showed with his outstanding sense of humor and ability to always make others laugh. I will always remember, and cherish, the day I was prank-called by the Mayor.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:01:18 +0000
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