Retiring Swampscott Director of Aging Services Heidi Whear will be honored at the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday after State Rep. Jenny Armini nominated her to receive the state’s Commonwealth Heroine Award.
Armani announced that Whear will be taking home the honor at her retirement party at the Senior Center on Monday. The message was met with a well-earned round of applause. The Commonwealth Heroine award is given to Massachusetts women who use their time, talent, spirit and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their communities.
“Heidi has taught me so much about the needs of this community,” said Armini. “She is one of those people who cares so deeply about their community.”
Over 50 members of the Senior Center and Swampscott community shared conversation, cookies and charcuterie while listening to speakers talk about the mark that Whear has left on the town.
Along with receiving the Commonwealth Heroine honor, the Friends of the Council on Aging gifted Whear a large planter, which will be filled with annual flowers of her choosing.
A Cherokee chief dogwood tree will also be planted outside of the Senior Center in Whear’s honor.
Council on Aging Board Member Rob Powell said it would be hard to find someone more caring, committed and dedicated to making Swampscott a great place to live for older adults.
“Heidi has always led with compassion,” said Powell. “She has always put people first. When someone needed help, she found a way to help. When she saw a problem, she went to work solving it. If she knew something would improve the lives of older adults she pursued it with persistence and purpose.”
Powell said out of everything in town Whear was involved in, her “unmistakable fingerprint” might be left most upon her work in establishing Seaglass Village, a community that helps support seniors living alone.
“Seaglass Village would not exist without Heidi,” said Powell. “She was the driving force behind its creation. She saw the need, rallied people behind the vision and worked tirelessly to make it a reality today.”
Powell capped off his remarks by telling Whear that all of her colleagues are better off having worked alongside her and the town of Swampscott is a better place because of her hard work.
Whear also took the mic and emphasized the importance of each and every committee in town.
“Committees are so important because they bring us together with purpose,” said Whear.
Whear said she will be taking a “gap year,” after retiring but plans to keep her service going through volunteer work in the future.
“If you love what you do, you never go to work,” said Whear. “I really don’t know what retirement will be because I really haven’t been working.”
