CARIBOU, Maine — During Monday night’s City Council meeting, longtime Superintendent of the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department Kathy Mazzuchelli announced her plans to retire this year.
“I am here in front of you tonight to announce that I will be retiring in 2014 from the City of Caribou,” she said, quickly clarifying that she didn’t mean that evening and gave the soft date of Sept. 1 — Labor Day.
Her life plan, she explained, included retiring at 62 — which didn’t happen.
“As we can all attest, when I was 62 things in the community were a little rough around the edges .. so I stayed,” she explained. “But I’m beginning to complete the 64th trip around the sun … I’m in great shape, mentally and physically — though there are some that would question that — and there are some things that I’d like to do, and I’d like to do it while I can.”
Mazzuchelli submitted her letter of resignation to Mayor Gary Aiken, and the council jokingly spoke of denying her request for retirement.
“I think it was Confucius who said if you have a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. And after 39 years, I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in those 39 years. Honestly, I did,” she quipped, “you got your moneys worth. But I did want to say it’s been a great ride, graciously appreciate being able to be a part of the community.
Mayor Aiken expressed his appreciation for the work Mazzuchelli has done.
“Thank you Kathy, and there’s no question that we hate to see you leave; you’ve done so much for Caribou and probably more than any of us or any of the other citizens begin to realize,” he said. “We appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”
Please see next week’s issue of the Aroostook Republican for additional information about Monday’s council meeting.
