Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

The Greenline extension … meh … New High School, wonderful. Union Square revitalization … God Bless!

Somerville isn’t just the new train stops, the fancy donut shops or the festivals. Without people, real people, there is no Somerville.

My Somerville is the person who I see at Dunk’s who tells me about their grandkids. My Somerville is the new neighbors on my street who invited us over for brunch. My Somerville is seeing two of my SHS class of ‘71 in one day. My Somerville is reading a positive, uplifting comment on Facebook by my friend and the best mayor this city will ever see, Gene Brune. My Somerville is having a laugh filled 10-minute conversation with Jack Connolly while walking our dogs on College Ave. Somerville is bumping into my pal Bobby McWatters in Davis Square.

Somerville is the guy with the Villen sticker on his car, the Davis Square T- shirt, and knowing every driving shortcut in the city. He is friends with a wide variety of new and old Somerville people. He loves his city. He is a dedicated family man who pays his taxes, loves his dog, cherishes his wife, and cares deeply for his siblings and family members. He loves his daily routine, eating out occasionally, shopping, and commenting on the lousy driving habits of other motorists. Sometimes he yells an obscenity out the window. The real Somerville guy is the salt of the earth.

When do the goings on of a big, growing, busy city become meaningless and petty? It’s when we lose another real Somerville person.

We lost one of these great guys on Sunday. His name is Freddie Benoit, also known as FJB 123. He was a graduate of Somerville Trade High School class of 1971. He was a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 17. His family grew up here. We met in the 9th grade at Western Junior High School in 1968. He married my cousin Carol and we became cohorts, best pals, and family. Freddie was Somerville. He has many friends who will miss him terribly. He was that type of guy. All of a sudden I don’t care about my taxes, or more T stops or who is running for office. I don’t care. I care about my family members who are in extreme pain at the loss of another loved one. In the long run, all that matters is the love of family and friends. Right now, my family is heartbroken. But Somerville comes through for one of their own. Freddie and our family’s many friends have been lovingly reaching out to us.

A special heart felt thank you to the Somerville Fire Department, the Somerville Police and Cataldo Ambulance.

There has been a loving outpouring of condolences. Like any other of the many Somerville families who experience grief and loss, we will survive. Thank You.