Let Us Now Praise Famous Men

Let Us Now Praise Famous Men // 11 July 2024

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Michael Famiglietti would lead the glee club at Boston Latin School in Vaughan Williams’ re- sounding song of that name. I speak, however, of real men and women and our duty to recognize them for their extraordinary contributions to our society.

It has been surfaced in the Great and General Court that the convention center should be named after the late Mayor Tom Menino. It’s about time.? I feel no guilt suggesting that a public building be named after a distinguished elected official, even if he happens to have been a white Italian man.

??????????? I was in the trenches early in 1998 representing the City Council in the very tense negotiations which resulted in the construction of the Convention Center.? I know that Tom Menino was absolutely essential to getting the convention center built and getting it built in the Seaport which has led to billions of dollars of development in the subsequent years.

While we are at it, isn’t it about time we name something after Bill Bulger? Bill was President of the Massachusetts Senate for almost 20 years and then president of UMASS.? A good way to salute him would be to name the South Boston branch Library the William?M. Bulger Library.

As someone who was active in fundraising efforts for the Boston Public Library, I can tell you that Bill Bulger’s ability to secure public funds was essential to the restoration of the McKim Building, one of the most glorious buildings in Boston and certainly a tribute to learning.? Naming the South Boston Library would be much more appropriate than a statue or a bench, of which there are plenty in South Boston.

South Boston has changed dramatically. The churches are not bursting at the seams. Large families do not dominate the scene. Very few 3 Deckers have 15 and 20 voters. Voting only peaks quadrennially. Nevertheless, learning remains; it is eternal.

I served with Joe Moakley on the City Council; certainly, plenty is named after him. Joe once told me how he engineered funding for the Silver Line. My guess is that I could show a picture of Joe Moakley to all the young people on their way to work in the Seaport or out-of-town visitors on their way to Logan Airport and no one would have any idea who he was. Sadly, he has been dead for more than 23 years.? Memories fade; people forget. ?

It is important to acknowledge the vital roles that Tom Menino and Bill Bulger have played in the advancement of the City of Boston and our Commonwealth.