Former Planning Board member: Family is most important

Dear Mr. DeFelice:

I thought I would educate you on the circumstances surrounding my decision not to run again for the Planning Board. I typically do not sit at the computer and respond to articles or points of information within the newspaper. However, given your recent article (April 4) with its inaccurate information and its content, I felt the need to educate you.

I have been a citizen of Canton since April 1968. I have had the luxury and privilege to grow up in this community, graduate from Canton High School in 1976, and raise my family here. As a kid I grew up on Walpole Street. As a father, husband and former member of the Planning Board, I reside on Trudy Terrace. As a citizen of this community I made a decision in 2008 to run for a seat on the Planning Board and offer my 25 years of planning, design, architectural and facilities experience to make certain that proposed projects being considered are in the best interest of the town of Canton.

Early this year I did have every intention of seeking re-election. However, there are obviously family issues that you are not aware of as evident in your recent column.

In June 2011, my 81-year-old stepfather of 42 years passed away at his home and my mother’s home on Walpole Street. I took care of my stepfather the last two years of his life, sacrificing my work, my family life, and still being an active member of the Planning Board. After his death, my 78-year-old mother’s health declined, but I still took care of her almost daily, helping her with her dementia and Alzheimer’s and still remained an active member of the Planning Board.

In early January of this year, the health of both my birth father and his wife of 37 years began to deteriorate. Being one of six children, I take total care of my mother on Walpole Street almost daily. In addition to my mother, I now help my birth father, who resides in western Massachusetts. In February of this year, my stepmother’s health declined rapidly and she entered St. Vincent’s Hospital ICU. After seven weeks in the ICU she passed away early Easter morning.

Despite your column suggesting “MAC and many other Canton political observers were extremely disappointed” that I waited to the last minute not to run, there were numerous individuals who were aware of my decision. Unfortunately, sometimes decisions have to be made quickly based on unforeseen circumstances.

I would remind you that family is the most important component in life and sometimes events in life impact how we live and decisions we make. The care and love I bring to my mother on Walpole Street and now my widowed father in western Massachusetts will never be wavered by anyone. I hope family remains the most important component in everyone’s life.

Respectfully

Gary E. Vinciguerra

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