Honoring Thomas Menino’s Time With Us

Haitian; Old Southie; patrician; Iris; ties; Converses; hoodies; police; street sweepers; people from the restaurant; old bones getting up the stairs; canes; Pride; electric wheelchairs; Cambodian; Spanish; professors; Dominican; a hint of celebration; straight from Sunday school; bloggers; the troubled cat from around the way; some tears; and, no briefcases, bags, lunch pails, or backpacks. The People.

Yesterday, as I stood in line for a chance to pay respect, I witnessed beauty — people of the City gathered to begin to touch and remember the Honorable Thomas M. Menino.  He’ll make one last visit to some of his favorite places today. We’re on the list. I’ll take a moment for one last send off – Tom Menino’s funeral procession passes by Kenmore Square around 10:45 a.m. If your schedule allows, join me in front of the BU Bookstore.  We were – and are – Tom Menino’s People.

I was blessed to call the Tom Menino a colleague. Not just during his time with Boston University, but while he sat as Mayor. We took time to sit, have a sandwich and chat. He laid an idea on me for a large-scale mentoring program, where BU – and other college and university students – would mentor high school students throughout Boston. He was always trying to find paths for Boston’s high school students to be inspired – by you and me – to live their dreams.  Youth engagement. In a personal tribute, I’ll continue to reflect on ways to give new time, resources, and advice to the young people of this City he loved so much.

Peace, Mayor Menino.

Peace.