Dear Somerville News Weekly Speakup Line,

I’d like to tell you a story about my friend George. He was a kind gentle sole. We knew him from church where he was an usher, a Knight, a helper in many things.

He helped out at our Saturday Night Suppers once a month. Where it was serving coffee and juice, cleaning up or staying by the door to make sure any late arrivers didn’t get locked out. George was always so kind. Many times my grandson would bring food down to him because he was afraid he’d miss someone at the door.

For over 30 years he had a Great job that he loved especially working under the former Register of Deeds Gene Brune until the last few years after Brune left office.

You see he worked at the Cambridge Middlesex Registry of Deeds Courthouse where you could see him working hard delivering and picking up files etc.

When the new “boss” came in a few years ago after she was elected to the office, anyone that was”different” was harrassed.

Every time l saw him at church all he talked about was Maria yelling at him, saying “are you supposed to be here, speed it up, do your job!”

If he questioned her she said “if you’re not happy quit!” He was more and more frustrated.

One morning it got so bad he called his cousin to pick him up at lunch time as he wasn’t feeling well and just couldn’t take anymore that day. He said he wanted to take a little nap to calm down. Well poor George never woke up again.

On a recent errand to the Registry of Deeds Clerk’s Office, I had mentioned George to a clerk who was helping me. He said “it was such a shame” and that “she has done that to other different workers like George.” “She probably needs jobs for some other relatives!”

Sincerely,

Linda Brietzke