Published in the January 26, 2017 edition
THE NORTH READING FIRE DEPARTMENT held a retirement party for longtime administrative assistant Helen Gray last Friday.
By Bill Laforme
NORTH READING – Dozens of people came to wish a happy retirement last Friday afternoon to Helen Gray, who was stepping down after 17 years as the administrative assistant for the town fire department.
Gray, a North Reading resident, called the position “the best job I ever had,” adding that “working with these people was absolutely wonderful.” During her time at the fire department, Gray noted that she had worked for four fire chiefs. Gray interacted regularly with numerous town departments over the years, and this reflected in the attendance at her retirement party. The department held a lunch buffet complete with a large cake for Gray.
Deputy Fire Chief Barry Galvin said that Gray had a wide range of vital duties, including billing and payroll. “She helped us get into the computer age,” he said. “Everybody thinks the world of Helen, we’re very sad to see her go.” Galvin also said that Gray was “very much loved and appreciated, a very hard worker who went above and beyond.”
Fire Chief Bill Warnock also cited Gray’s importance to the department. “Without her I couldn’t have done my job,” he said, emphasizing that Gray was a well-respected and highly capable staff member who was also known and well liked by many at town hall and who had touched many people through her work. “She made it easy for me,” said Warnock. “They don’t give you a book on how to be a fire chief.”
Sandy Quinlan, formerly of the town DPW, will has reportedly been hired as Gray’s successor and has already been training for some time.
