Брендан Смит уволился после 50 лет службы в Steamship Authority

Brendan Smith (center), who retired this week after nearly 50 years with the Steamship Authority, poses with his sons, Brendan Jr. and Bryant, and grandchildren Davina and Brendan III on his final day of work. Smith began his career with the Steamship Authority in 1977. On Tuesday, as the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority Vessel Eagle docked in Hyannis after its afternoon journey from Nantucket, a man walked off the ferry with his two grandchildren. This is a common scene this time of year, as many families complete a summer sojourn with a walk off a Steamship vessel and conclude a journey. This was, however, no common scene and no common journey. The grandfather, who lovingly held the hands of his grandkids Davina and Brendan III, was Brendan M. Smith, and while his journey that day may have been a beautiful summer’s day trip from Nantucket with his family, it was a journey he took thousands of times over half a century. Brendan retired this week from the Steamship Authority after nearly 50 years of service. His long and distinguished career began in August of 1977. As he and his grandkids disembarked, a large crowd of family and friends erupted into applause to acknowledge his service to the Steamship, but also his service to others. His calm but unwavering commitment to helping others is one of the defining characteristics of this man of boundless generosity. Joining him in the celebration were his wife Christine and sons Brendan Jr. and Bryant. Public service is in the Smith DNA. Brendan’s dad, James H. “Jimmy” Smith, was also a Falmouth legend, serving on the Steamship Authority Board and serving as both a personal and professional support to his friends John, Robert, and Ted Kennedy. Several of Brendan’s siblings followed his father and him into public service, also serving on the seas with the Steamship Authority, in the courts, and in a variety of professional positions, always with an eye toward service. Brendan served as a Town Meeting Member for more than twenty years and was a constant supporter of youth sports, particularly hockey. The cheers and praise for Brendan’s half-century of service, though, did not just come from his family and friends. Colleagues up and down the chain of command praised his compassion and professionalism. Joe Russas, Operation and Communication Center Manager, himself a 35-year veteran of the lifeline to the islands, issued a letter delivered to all Steamship vessels, explaining what Brendan meant to his fellow employees, to the traveling public, and to the institution he has served since Jimmy Carter was President. Russas noted that, “Brendan Smith began his career with the Steamship Authority in 1977 as a porter. Through hard work, dedication and commitment. Brendan worked his way through the ranks and ultimately became a purser. Throughout his many years with the Steamship Authority, Brendan was known as a dedicated employee and a great merchant mariner. He took great pride in his work, his shipmates and the important role he played in serving the traveling public. Brendan was also a strong advocate for his fellow union members. He was always leading the way and working to achieve better representation, better working conditions, and a stronger voice for his fellow employees. He never hesitated to stand up for what he believed was right and to make sure the concerns of his fellow union members were heard. Brendan‘s long career is a testament to his work ethic, professionalism, leadership, and commitment to his fellow employees and the Steamship Authority. His dedication to his union and his shipmates left a lasting impression on those who had the opportunity to work alongside him. We thank Brendan for his many years of dedicated service and leadership his contributions to the Steamship Authority, his union and his fellow merchant mariners will be remembered and appreciated for years to come. We wish Brendan all the best on his well-deserved retirement, and in the next chapter of his life.” That is a fitting and appropriate tribute. I know because I have had the pleasure of calling Brendan a friend for more than thirty of those years. In my early days in Falmouth politics, he was a tireless supporter, holding signs at the polls and helping gather support from his nearly endless list of local friends. We held poker nights in my basement for years on Friday with other local notables including Percy Kennedy, my brother K.C., and recently retired Town Clerk Michael Palmer, among others. I chatted with Michael this week and he shared that “having known Brendan since grade school and working with him for a short stint at the Steamship Authority, so many things have changed, but what has remained constant is that Brendan was and has always been a friend and above all a gentleman.” Always a friend. Always a gentleman. Brendan’s support and loyalty never wavered as my own personal challenges grew. As Michael said, that’s just the kind of man Brendan is. So many in our community know and knew he has been and is a voice and source of support, no matter your station in life or your circumstances. I’ve seen less of him these last few years as our families and paths have evolved, but I know that if I was in a bind and called him, he’d drop everything and come. That’s true friendship, and I know there are countless heads nodding in acknowledgement across our community when his friends read that passage. When my wife and I sold our liquor store on Main Street, Brendan helped me disassemble the beer cooler. We transferred it to his backyard and made a lifetime of laughs and memories in one night. The stories of his decades aboard virtually every vessel could fill volumes of entertaining tomes. My personal favorite includes his observations as an eager fan asked former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on a trip to Nantucket to sign a book that had been written about him. The coach didn’t respond and, after a few fruitless tries, the master of grumbling retorts made it clear in plain language that he wasn’t interested in signing the book. As the Purser on that journey, Brendan had a front-row seat to the entertainment. But of all the stories and the thousands of journeys across Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds, the enduring legacy of Brendan Smith as he heads into retirement was summed up in the words genuinely shared with me by his wife, Chris. She simply noted that “He is a compassionate person and kind to all.” There can be no better legacy. Calm seas, my kind and compassionate friend. Thank you from a grateful community and thank you from a grateful friend. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login.