Sorry for the lack of activity on the blog this week. With the birth of Gabby and a busy week at work there just hasn’t been time. Yesterday I had to be in Maquoketa at 6:15 a.m. for a meeting and that has been typical of this week. Anyway one of the things I love about the work I do is that I get to be around some really quality people. One of those quality people is Jack Hanlon.
A bittersweet day yesterday as it was his last day at work. Sweet because he is going to gets to enjoy retirement and doing what he loves to do. Of course the bitter part is that we will see him only on an occasional pass through and I will miss seeing and talking with him. Above Jack, one of his 4 daughters, and his Sainted wife Gayle.
Jack worked for a company in the Quad Cities (the same company his Father worked for) and rose through the ranks putting in 37 years. Then one year another company bought them out, gutted the company and Jack was out of a job. They also gutted the pension plan. Still too young to retire Jack came to work for one of our banks in the customer service department. Even after what had happened to him and working for 50% of his original income he always came to work with an upbeat, can do, will do attitude.
In the 10 years he was there I never once saw him with a down attitude and he was always one of the first to volunteer for projects. He worked in a department with 5 younger women and they made him dress up in silly costumes for Halloween, do crazy skits for training and teased him unmercifully. 🙂 Through it all they developed a wonderful friendship and respect for each other that was evident in everything they did. If you look at my 365 project around December you’ll see one of the things they talked Jack into doing.
The Bank did a great job of celebrating his tenure with them. They had an employee breakfast for Jack complete with some funny videos of his career at the Bank and some nice parting gifts. Then at 2:00 p.m. They had an open house so all of Jack’s customers could come and wish him well in his retirement. They served punch and cake. It was a very nice tribute to a Quality Guy.
After work many of Jack’s co-workers / friends joined him at the Decker House for a final round of cheer and well wishes. Monday won’t be the same, but I’ll smile when I think of Jack sitting in his chair, reading the paper and thinking how wonderful it is not to have to suit up and work another day. Enjoy my Friend.
Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend and be careful.
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