Community mourns passing of longtime public servant

The town of Canton lost one of its most dedicated servants, ardent supporters, and knowledgeable citizens with the passing of George F. Jenkins on December 28.

Jenkins, who died at home surrounded by loved ones, had been battling an illness in recent years. He would have been 81 years old on Sunday.

A lifelong Cantonite and graduate of Canton High School, Jenkins cared deeply about his hometown and gave more than 50 years of his life in service to the community through various government and civic endeavors. He was perhaps best known for his lengthy stints on the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen, but he also served on at least a half dozen other boards and committees and was the clerk of the works for a number of town projects, including the recent high school renovation.

“He loved Canton,” noted his wife and best friend, Marla. “He just loved it.”

A former builder, Jenkins drew on his extensive knowledge of the construction industry to shepherd the town through several major building projects and protect its interests from overzealous developers.

“He never pulled any punches,” recalled Bob McCarthy, who served with him for years on the Building Renovation Committee. “The amount of knowledge he had was just unbelievable and he was always a pleasure to work with.”

McCarthy, who also has a lengthy track record of public service in Canton, first met Jenkins when he served on the Finance Committee and Jenkins was on the Planning Board. McCarthy later moved on to the School Committee while Jenkins was elected selectman, and the two became close friends.

“We used to fight and argue and have a good time back and forth,” said McCarthy. “He’d be looking out for the municipal side and I’d be looking out for the schools. We would always tease each other, but we always had a great deal of respect and we really liked each other.”

McCarthy said Jenkins was an invaluable resource on the BRC and a no-brainer choice to serve as clerk of the works on several important town projects, acting as the town’s eyes and ears in dealings with the general contractor, architect and owner’s project manager. And even on projects that Jenkins did not clerk for, McCarthy would still rely on him extensively for advice and input.

“He always helped as a consultant and always stayed involved,” noted McCarthy. “Relying on him is something I’m going to sorely miss. He was very much a class act, a very hard act to follow, and a hell of a nice guy.”

Selectman John Connolly, who served alongside Jenkins during his nine-year run on the BOS, also spoke very highly of Jenkins as both a public servant and a friend.

“George was level headed and he was a straight shooter,” said Connolly. “And not everyone realizes the sense of humor that he had; he had a tremendous sense of humor, a very dry one, and his heart was always in the right place.”

Connolly said Jenkins was an extraordinary asset to the town and someone who was “fiercely loyal” and took his responsibility to the citizens very personally. Echoing McCarthy, he said that Jenkins “didn’t pull any punches” and could “spot a phony from a mile away.” He could be tough, and he helped to teach Connolly that as a public official, “You can’t please everybody.”

Still, Connolly said he had a heart of gold. “His bark was a lot worse than his bite, that’s for sure,” he said.

Jeremy Comeau, who served on the Planning Board with Jenkins for more than a decade following Jenkins’ three terms as a selectman, described him as a man who “had a passion to work for the town and to get things done.”

“There were times when we would chat for hours about a zoning article and what could be done to improve it,” recalled Comeau.

And while they did not always see eye to eye, Jenkins became a sounding board for Comeau and an important influence in his life and career.

“George is one of the reasons that I have been successful in my work with the state Democratic Party,” said Comeau, who has since moved to Boston and now works as the party’s director of technology, training and youth outreach. “We didn’t always agree on everything, but I still take what he taught me and apply it to my work today.”

In a Facebook post reflecting on Jenkins’ passing, Comeau said it was a privilege to work with Jenkins on a number of town initiatives, including the redevelopment of the former Plymouth Rubber factory site, now renamed the Paul Revere Heritage Site. “I know George was proud of that work and was happy we could save the historic buildings and create new green space for the town to enjoy,” he said.

Comeau also had the pleasure of directing both George and Marla in the Canton Community Theatre’s production of Clue, and they both shined in their roles, he said.

Jenkins, despite his sometimes gruff exterior, thoroughly enjoyed participating in local theater and was in fact one of the CCT’s founding members.

“His leadership and guidance has helped us grow into the theatre that we have today,” noted CCT President Renee’ Hanscom. “He never hesitated to take on a role that often would leave the audience laughing (Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Dick Simmering in Death by Chocolate).

Hanscom said Jenkins was “such a gentle soul” and would make everyone who was a part of the community theatre feel like family. “I was so blessed to work with him both on and behind the scenes before becoming a board member,” she said. “Once you met him, when you saw him outside of the theatre, you knew he was a friend for life. We often still talk crazy situations that happened with George at our theatre and fill in our new members on what a great person he was. We will miss him, his laughter, and the friendship he shared with us all over all these years.”

In addition to his service to the town and contributions to the Canton Community Theatre, Jenkins was also active for many years in Canton youth sports, and he and Marla gave generously to a number of charitable causes. They were also active in civic life and were the recipients of several awards, including the Blue Hill Civic Association Citizen of the Year Award and the Catholic Charities Peggy Simons Care and Compassion Award.

Described by Marla as a “good man, a good father and a good husband,” George is survived by sons George, Michael and Daniel and daughter Amy, and he was predeceased by his son Charles. He is also survived by four sisters, his sister-in-law Judy (wife of his late brother Bill), as well as 10 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Donations in his memory can be made to either St. John School Foundation, Box 604, Canton, MA 02021, or to the Canton Veterans Services Department, 801 Washington St., Canton, MA 02021.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Jan 10 2020. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.