Fundraiser for veterans highlights ‘Bobby Maffie Day’

Bob Maffie with his son Austin (2nd from right) and friends Joe and Matt MacDonald at his 65th birthday party

It’s probably safe to say that everyone in Canton has seen some of the results of Bob Maffie’s passion for honoring veterans. It’s there in the 25-foot flagpole at his house that’s lit up at night. It’s there in the green and gold sign at Veterans Memorial Park on Washington Street. Most of all, it’s there in the 144 flags on the 77 street signs in Canton dedicated to fallen soldiers that Maffie tends to twice a year in preparation for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Maffie is not a veteran, at least not in the usual sense. But it might be fair to say that he’s a different kind of veteran: a veteran of civilian service to others.

Growing up in Canton from about the age of 8, Maffie endured his share of hardships. Fortunately, he had mentors who cared about him and helped keep him on the right path. His grandfather, an Italian immigrant and U.S. Army veteran of World War II, was one of them, but there were others as well who made a difference. “I have to pay somebody back — I’ve had so many help me,” Maffie said.

He was close to Tony Andreotti, the late Canton veterans agent, who became his “patriotic mentor.” Twenty years ago, when Andreotti asked him to place flags on the signs honoring fallen heroes, Maffie was happy to take on the responsibility. His patriotic feelings were already strong, dating from the Gulf War (1990-91).

“Somebody hit me over the head with a sledgehammer and made me into a real patriot,” he recalled of that era.

Arafat Knight, the town’s current veterans services officer, keeps Maffie supplied with flags. All labor and other supplies, such as electrical tape, are provided by Maffie. As a licensed electrician and carpenter, he’s fully capable of managing the installation and any needed repairs for each pair of flags. He uses a red, white and blue painted ladder that was given to him by a friend. It’s a demanding project, but Maffie said it inspires him: “I’m so proud to do it I don’t think of it as work.”

Maffie keeps busy with other projects besides the twice-yearly flag work. On July 15, he hosted a big 65th birthday/semi-retirement party for himself with the main focus on bringing people together and celebrating patriotism.

The 200 guests were asked to wear red, white and blue and to contribute to a fundraising effort for veterans. Six Red Sox tickets were raffled off — two donated by Maffie’s neighbor Steve Connolly and four by the Rodman family. The raffles alone brought in $760; the total raised so far stands at $3,060, and there are a few checks are outstanding. The money will be divided between Canton’s Veterans Services Department and the American Legion Post 24.

Maffie’s birthday party was attended by Select Board members John Connolly, Chris Albert, and John McCourt. Connolly presented Maffie with a certificate declaring July 15, 2023 as “Bobby Maffie Day” and expressing the board’s appreciation of his “exemplary service, dedication, and commitment to the community.”

A party five years ago for Maffie’s 60th birthday raised $4,000, including a $1,000 check donated by a friend. Of the total raised, the majority of the funds went to the Veterans Memorial Park sign; the remainder paid for cemetery headstones for two veterans whose families couldn’t afford to pay for them.

For the most part, Maffie’s veterans projects are solo efforts. He said he couldn’t do it without the support of his wife, Lisa, and their son, Austin, but the work is his personal mission.

Select Board Vice Chair John Connolly presents a certificate of appreciation to Bob Maffie.

Together, the family works on another cause close to their hearts: epilepsy. Six months after the first fundraising birthday party, in January 2019, they lost their older son, Anthony, to Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Anthony, a rugby player and nursing major at Curry College, died in his sleep despite taking good care of himself and his epilepsy seeming under control.

Since their tragic loss, Bob, Lisa and Austin have participated in two annual fundraising walks for CURE Epilepsy, bringing in a total of $13,000.

Maffie is very appreciative of the support they have received from small groups like Anthony’s rugby team to larger groups like the broader Canton community. “They’re so supportive and good to us you don’t want to not give back,” he said.

The recent losses of Anthony as well as other family members weigh on Maffie, and they are part of the reason he likes to bring people together. He said he’s seen what happens in nursing homes. “I know how fast the quality of life can go,” he said.

Maffie is pushing back against aging by planning on playing competitive softball as long as possible. He and Austin play on the same team at Devoll Field, where Maffie has placed four flags to decorate the backstop.

He also has no intention of resigning from his flag duties. To anyone who asks when he will think about quitting, he answers, “You’re going to have to peel me off this ladder.”

His interest in fundraising remains strong as well. He has already arranged for next spring’s CURE Epilepsy walk to be held in Canton instead of its previous location in Mansfield. He also hasn’t ruled out the possibility of holding another party and said he may combine fundraising efforts for the two causes nearest to his heart: curing epilepsy and honoring veterans.

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Posted by Candace Paris on Aug 11 2023. Filed under Features. Both comments and pings are currently closed.