Nice Touches: Farewells for Retiring Postmasters

Exploring the Poconos in 2011 I came across this flyer at the Pocono Pines post office. It beautifully demonstrates what long-serving Postmasters mean to the communities they serve, particularly in rural areas. I'll let this invitation to a retirement party thrown by local residents speak for itself.



Honoring retiring Postmaster Fred Jabara:

It is with due respect and appreciation that we wish to recognize the 23 years of pleasant and committed service Fred has provided to over 1,000 postal patrons. His smiling face, friendly service and the personal attention extended to each one of us, made mail pickup a pleasant occasion. We are sorry he is leaving but honored to have had this gentleman as our Postmaster these many years. In his honor, a social and dinner evening has been planned, at which time we can pay our respects, offer our thanks and wish Fred and his lovely wife Judy, many happy healthy years of retirement.

Pocono Pines, PA post office, 2011:


The next month I visited the VA Hospital in East Orange, New Jersey to visit its Contract Postal Unit (CPU) in room 3-109. It was then I discovered that the CPU had closed just a couple of weeks prior. Evidently this was due to the retirement of the contractor. While technically he was not a U.S. Postmaster, John Curry was dedicated to serving his community just the same. I was heartened by the sign on the (then-former) postal door:



"Let's all come together and say farewell to Mr. John Curry, Postmaster for East Orange VA. 3rd floor, conference room 3-218. Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 11 AM - 2 PM."

When I was younger I recall our block throwing a party for Sal, our local postal carrier, who had served for more than 30 years. Has your community thrown a farewell party for your favorite local postal employee? Let us know in the comments!