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Gaithersburg to honor Tommy Mason, caretaker of community center

By Jen Bondeson,March 28, 2012

Tommy Mason says he loves the city of Gaithersburg — Mayor Sidney Katz, city workers, residents — everything about it.

Now the city is showing Mason, 72, some love.

The fountain at Casey Community Center, where Mason worked as caretaker for 20 years until retiring in September, will be dedicated in his name April 26 at a commemorative naming ceremony.

“It’s one of the greatest things in my life,” Mason said of being honored. “It is beautiful. It is.”

Katie Gleeson, Mason’s former supervisor, said the honor is well deserved.

As caretaker, Mason maintained the building, grounds and fountain of the community center, which the city rents for parties and receptions and uses to house other functions. His job included anything from stripping the floors to watering the plants. He worked 40-hour weeks, eight hours each weekday, and was on call if the city needed him. He lived in a room in the center.

Mason said he did whatever needed to be done, but Gleeson said he was more than that; he was a friendly face. Mason said he greeted preschoolers in the morning when their parents dropped them off and made friends with people attending Alcoholics Anonymous groups.

Everybody knows Mason, Gleeson said. The children call him “Mr. Tommy.”

Mason will be the first city employee honored under the city’s commemorative naming rights policy passed by the mayor and City Council last April, said Michele Potter, director of the department of parks, recreation and culture. A 5-inch-by-8-inch plaque will be placed on the fountain, which is on Frederick Avenue. The policy was created to honor contributions such as public service, community volunteerism and outstanding achievement.

Mason was recommended for the honor by Laura Sarno, supervisor of parks maintenance.

“Tommy was like a legacy at the community center for 20 years,” Potter said. “He went above and beyond and was the spirit of the building, so it is nice to present this honor to him.”

Mason started at the center after working for more than two decades as a plumber. He said he tried to set an example by following the standard that the city sets for six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

“Life is beautiful, but you have to put something good in to get something out,” he said.

This isn’t the first time Mason has been recognized by the city for his service: He has about 20 plaques at home.

He retired last year because of diabetic neuropathy, damage to nerves in the body that occurs from high blood sugar levels from diabetes, in his right leg. After months in and out of the hospital, he said he feels better now.

He lives in an apartment across from the community center and visits almost daily.

Years from now, when people see Mason’s name on the plaque, Gleeson said, he wants them to know why it is there.

“[It is for] someone who went above and beyond in caring for that area, and did it with a smile,” she said. “A part of him was given.”