One year ago yesterday, we lost a very important member of our Framingham
family. The man who made us laugh, scratch our heads and at times
exasperated us, passed away
suddenly from a heart attack.
Walter Siggins was one of a kind. A family man who actually did like his
mother-in-law despite his many humorous posts to the contrary; a sports fan
who enjoyed our youth athletes more than the pros in the best sports city in
the world; and a follower of local politics who cared deeply about the
community he grew up in.
Walter was a very kind man who would do anything to help friends and
strangers alike. And people on these email lists know Walter had a great
sense of humor.
He entertained all of us for years and was a full participant in our
wonderful community for his entire life.
It was very unfortunate that he wasn't able to live long enough to realize
his life's dream of serving as Harbormaster for the new City of Framingham.
Due to Walter's passing it has been decided that nobody will assume this
position. He was the only person who could have possibly done it justice.
There have been many times in the past year when people have commented
wondering what Walter would have said about this issue or that issue.
Without Walter these boards have been missing an incredible spirit with a
great sense of humor. They have not been the same. They also appear to have
not been as active, because if folks stop having fun-they eventually avoid
the mechanism that previously provided it.
Walter had the talent to take an issue folks were getting overheated about
and inflect enough humor to take the edge off of a hostile discussion and
then bring people back into it in a less threatening way. That's what we are
now missing. People are checking out and NOT coming back.
What Framingham had in Walter-the nation also needed and both of us still
are in desperate need of a Walter.
As we sit here on the eve of Easter, I hope that Walter's spirit and his
innate ability to bring divisive people closer together through humor will
emerge in the soul of another individual in our community
who can carry on Walter's legacy and keep making Framingham a better place
to live.
I wish the entire Siggins Family a happy Easter and want them to know that
Walter's contribution to making Framingham better for others, was greatly
appreciated and will never be forgotten.
Cheryl
Cheryl Tully Stoll
Walter's Friend
Cheryl Tully Stoll
6 Sullivan Terrace
Framingham, MA 01701
508-641-4884
<email obscured>