Kennedy drops by to visit recovering constituent

LYNN – Washington Street resident Thomas Miller declared Monday afternoon to be one for the history books after Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy stopped by to check in on him.”Not one damn mayor ever cared enough about sick people or old people to come visit until this mayor,” he said, pointing to Kennedy.Kennedy said Miller has been a fixture in the mayor’s office for a number of years. He is a loyal constituent who often comes by to chat. When it was determined, last summer that he would need surgery he asked Kennedy if she would come visit him.Kennedy said she agreed but complications from the surgery kept him in intensive care where he was unable to have visitors. After four months in rehab Miller came home and called Kennedy to remind her of her promise.Monday she made good on that promise and visited the 70-year-old Miller in his home, which he shares with his son Russell and their cat Buttercup.”I feel very honored to be invited into your house,” Kennedy said.Miller was born and raised in Kentucky but his parents worked for General Electric and the family eventually made its way to Lynn. He said he later joined the Marines, where he was a fighter pilot and flew during Vietnam.He showed off paintings, pictures, model cars and what he called his wall of honor, which dominated the small living room. On the wall of honor hung six citations given to Miller for various honors by Kennedy as well as former Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy. A seventh citation belonged to his son after he tried out for the American Iron Chef competition.On the far end of the wall are more than a dozen cards from friends and family.”That’s nice,” Kennedy said. “It reminds you how much people think of you.”In between the cards and the citations is a large photograph of Miller’s idol, Ted Williams, alongside a small photograph of Miller with Kennedy.”That was coffee with the mayor,” he said smiling broadly. “Everything on this wall has meaning.”Kennedy complimented Miller on his collections. Before she left she pointed to the row of citations and asked what his next honor would be.”I don’t know,” he said stroking his chin. “We’ll think of something though because we have room to fit a few more up there ? I’m just so happy you came.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].