‘She was a wonderful role model’: Local officials salute mothers

Saugus Fire Chief James Blanchard jokes that his mother beat him with a stick when he was growing up and that “he was raised by wolves.”He credits his mother for his sense of humor.”She is always able to laugh at herself and loves telling a good story. I think I got that from her,” said Blanchard.His mother’s positive attitude on life is an attribute he always admired.She grew up in World War II and even during the bleakest of times, she always stayed positive.”I once asked her if she ever thought she would live under a Nazi regime. She looked at me like I was crazy. She never once doubted we would persevere,” he said.Several area officials talked this week about the impact their mothers had on their lives as Mother’s Day approaches on Sunday.Growing up in a family of men, Blanchard’s mother didn’t always have it easy. “There were three boys plus my father. She was a trooper.”Blanchard’s mother was a stay at home mom while he was a child and believes that played a role in his success.”I grew up during an idyllic time in life when you would come home from school and your mom would be there. There are a lot of latch-key kids now with keys around their necks with no one home when they get there. There was always someone their for me,” said Blanchard. “That was huge for me. I never wondered if I was loved. I knew I was loved.”He also admired both his parents’ work ethic.”We were not rich growing up but we thought we were,” said Blanchard. “They never took a vacation that required a trip on an airplane. They never owned a new car. They never complained about it either.” “They taught us if you are willing to work hard then great things can happen,” he said.State Rep. Lori Ehrlich’s mom, Diane, gave her Peanut cartoons as a child when she was feeling down. “Whenever I was upset, she would give me a cartoon of Snoopy doing a happy dance,” said Ehrlich.Ehrlich believes that her sense of caring for the community is something she inherited from her mother.”She was a wonderful role model for me,” said Ehrlich. “She taught me strength, compassion, fairness and she is a great, active listener. She also makes wonderful chicken noddle soup.”Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, still has a Peanuts cartoon that her mom gave to her when she was 12.In it, Lucy says if you can’t be right then be wrong at the top of your voice.”I always thought it was a good philosophy,” said Ehrlich.State Rep. Donald Wong, R-Saugus, said his mother broke new ground because she was one of the first female insurance agents during a time when women were expected to stay home.”I give her a lot of respect for doing what she did especially when women were not expected to come out into the workplace,” said Wong. “She shaped me with the morals and ethics that I have today.”Growing up in a family of six, it can be a little crowded. Wong’s mother made sure to give each child the individual attention they craved.”She always said we were her favorite when the other siblings were not around,” said Wong.One of the most important things Wong learned from his mother was humanity. “She was always helping others. She worked for the YMCA in Chinatown.”Wong also now helps with the YMCA. “In a way I am following in her footsteps,” said Wong.Swampscott Town Administrator Andrew Maylor credits his mother for teaching him how to communicate with other people.”She knew how to understand people and how to talk to them. It has helped me both personally and professionally,” said Maylor.Maylor’s favorite memory growing up with his mom was when the family would go away on vacation to their cottage in New Hampshire.”We didn’t have that much money but we would pack up the one car and head to New Hampshire. Those were really special times,” said Maylor.One of the most important lessons Maylor has ever learned from his mother was forgiveness. “She taught me to turn the page and not cut people out of your life.”Lynn Ward 6 City Councilor Peter Capano says he feels comfortable in his own skin thanks to his mother