LaChapelle's memory lives
By Trevor Jones, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Updated: 03/28/2009 06:04:41 AM EDT

Saturday, March 28
LENOX — Dennis LaChapelle spent his days making the roads safe for others. Now, his memory will live on, sheltering the men and women who continue the often thankless job of keeping our streets clear.

Friends, family and co-workers gathered Friday at the Massachusetts Highway station on Route 7A to remember LaChapelle and watch as Massachusetts Highway Commissioner Luisa Paiewonsky dedicated the Dennis H. LaChapelle Maintenance Facility in honor of his two years' of service to the department.

LaChapelle, who was a Becket resident, died in December while operating a snowplow during the first heavy snowfall of the winter when he suffered a fatal heart attack and was found in his truck in a field off Route 41.

"He died while making the roads safe for others, and I can think of no greater tribute than that," Paiewonsky said.

Family members said LaChapelle would be remembered as a hard worker and a kind person who was always looking to help others.

Debra Fitzgerald, LaChapelle widow, said the dedication was unexpected, but it would have made her husband happy.

"He would be embarrassed, but he would be proud," she said.

The family was presented with a Massachusetts Highway hard hat, a copy of the sign that now adorns the building, and a citation from Gov. Deval L. Patrick honoring LaChapelle's service.

Paiewonsky said LaChapelle epitomized the hard work and effort of the
department's employees and that his death was a tragedy for both the family and the department.

"We wanted to recognize that he died in the line of duty and show the family that they weren't the only ones that would bear the sorrow," Paiewonsky said after the ceremony.

The work of plow drivers and sanders is arduous and often goes unnoticed, she said, and the dedication was a method to recognize the time and effort of those employees.

As a longtime resident of Northern Michigan, I can certainly concur and acknowledge that our local snowplow drivers are heros of our communities.

Best wishes to his friends and family.

Thanks for posting this hon. He so deserves this. I just wish he'd been on the snow plow crews in my area here in VA. Then maybe the snow wouldn't have been pushed up against the driveway when the emergency crew came for Mike...

This is a wonderful and fitting tribute to Dennis's dedication. I think that we don't really realize the sacrifices people in jobs like this make to keep things safe for us. They are every bit as important as the EMT's, firefighters and police officers, but are invisible to us until something like this happens to someone we know.

This is a very sad thing, but maybe it can be used to wake people up to the services many provide us, invisibly and uncomplainingly.

Blessings to Dennis.

Dennis' passing followed in just a few months by Cheryl's Mike's passing have saddened us all who lurk at and contribute to this website. Certainly hoping that the bad news is behind us, and sending blundervibes to all the families and friends concerned; Cheryl, hang in there. You know we're here for you.


mikey

To Dennis' wife and friends as love from strangers.

***********************

The End of the Row

I used to drive the tour bus
With a party load in back
To warm soft music summers
With a toolkit in my sack
If the bus broke down I'd fix it fast
This bus of life ain't slow
Crowds don't wait
For the second show
So I hoe to the end of the row.

I saw Mount Shasta burst in glory
Through early morning mist
The sun came up as children slept
With each cheek freshly kissed
Rising sons were marching on
To sing it loud and so
I let 'em sleep and aimed that bus
Toward home and the end of the row.

Now I drive this snow plow
Nothing's really changed
I put on overhauls in the dark
To clear the Berkshire lanes
My toolkit's got a few more tools
And every one is mine
You never ask me why I go
To plow the county line

There's a van full of children
Mother's bringing groceries home
There's an 18 wheeler with a reefer on
The snow covered twisty slope
It's mine to do
It's yours to know
Mothers and kids need a safer road
So I hoe to the end of the row.

If they find me on the shoulder tonight
Slumped over the wheel asleep
Take the keys and give'em to the boss
He'll send a driver quick
It's mine to do.
I've got to go.
One last plow through the ice and snow
Hoeing to the end of the row.

len bullard - 2009

len, that's awesome! Have you got a tune for it?


mikey

Nope. Somebody who knew him should do that. That puts the heart of the man in the music.

I found a penny some one else lost. Put it in the Guthrie Center collection box so it finds its way home too.

Share your love!

Len - very sweet

PS it's a poem - no music needed. Wouldn't add anything.

Thanks Arlo. That means much.

On the other hand, respectfully, lots of his friends are musicians.

Musicians like poems too - well some of 'em.

First of all, thank you, Arlo for posting the article...I have the actual newspaper for you!

Len, thank you for your poem...its beautiful. It doesn't need music for the lyrics to have touched my heart...Dennis is the music in my soul!

Happy to do it, Deb. He knows what you are feeling, I think. Driving into work yesterday, the story was right in front of me. Be well!

Happy trails, 'slinger. All good spirits willing, I'll see your show in B'ham late this summer! Otherwise, somewhere on the trek.

Meanwhile, back to the slide video. Sixty years of war is sad stuff to edit. Gotta love these software toys though. Addictive.

One does not forget the unforgetable. When the unforgetable is one you wish to remember and you share that wish with many others, it's impossible to forget.

I envision a broad smiling Dennis plowing the streets of heaven during a blizzard of black pepper in a golden snowplow truck with the windows open.

I'm so sorry to hear about Dennis; I guess we missed the info the first time around. Deb, please know we are thinking about you, and will miss Dennis greatly! He was a generous friend.
Libby and David