Interim President Cynthia Brown poses with MCLA's retiring Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts said farewell to its Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon, who is retiring after 16 years of service.
Friends, family, and co-workers met in Murdock Hall on Monday afternoon to give Charon a proper send off with food and kind words.
Before presenting Charon with a plague acknowledging his service to the college, interim MCLA President Cindy Brown said it had been a pleasure working with Charon in both of her positions at the college. She said he provided leadership and was the "linchpin" in the school's public safety procedures.
"It has been a pleasure to get to now Joe over my time here and to know how much he has contributed to this community," Brown said. "He has given us leadership, he has given us advice over time, and he has brought a huge work ethic to this school."
Vice President of Administration and Finance James Stakenas read off many of Charon's accomplishments, which included organizing and training a critical response team, implementation of digital safety systems, developing emergency plans for all college events, writing grants, and speaking at more than 50 public events when the school was discussing arming campus police.
He added that Charon also implemented a campuswide texting system that sent out prerecorded emergency messages. He said there are 100 different messages on 50 different topics.
"We have messages for earthquakes, unsafe water conditions, and major information technology failures," Stakenas said. "You know things are thorough when you prepare a message to be sent when you can't send it."
Stakenas also displayed the many guides and emergency instruction manuals Charon has provided the school. He even brought out one tool he said was important for figuring out how to handle an emergency situation — a Magic 8-Ball with a yellow sticker on it that read "just call Joe."
Stakenas said he enjoyed working with Charon and wished him a happy retirement.
"Congratulations and best wishes and you will always be with us with whatever you do next and as a good friend," he said.
Executive Vice President Denise Richardello thanked Charon for protecting the school and extended a special thanks for his help in creating a security plan in 2006 when then U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy was to speak at graduation.
Colleagues from MCLA and in the first-responder community attended the farewell gathering.
"Joe came up with this unbelievable plan for security on campus, and he crossed every T and dotted every I to make sure if anything were to happen that day he was on it," Richardello said. "Your confidence and your level of handling the situation is just admirable and you have made this institution better."
Tom Grady from the Berkshire County sheriff's office shared his respect for Charon and added that although his retirement is a huge loss for public safety, Charon will remain as an asset on the Northern Berkshire Emergency Planning Committee.
North Adams Fire Director Steve Meranti echoed this statement.
"He's the chairman and he coordinates the seven towns we have here, and we have seen a lot of incidents over the past few years and Joe is the key player," Meranti said. "He keeps us all going and keeps us in the right direction."
He added that Charon will also join the North Adams Ambulance squad in his retirement.
Charon spoke at the end of the celebration and joked that Brown still had eight hours to give him a "meritorious promotion and raise."
He then thanked everyone who helped him protect the campus.
"Most of us get into public service because we get more back than what we give and that's true of this place," Charon said. "As much as I give I have gotten so much from all of you, and it's been and honor to have served this community."
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Interim President Cynthia Brown poses with MCLA's retiring Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon.
Colleagues from MCLA and in the first-responder community attended the farewell gathering.
