To the editor:
Louis A. Gallo was a true friend, teacher, artist, visionary, writer, storyteller, leader, team player, jokester and humorist, as well as the most generous human being we have ever known. His knowledge of Swampscott history was legendary.
No one else could compete with what alone comes to a tie vote in this area. He was tops and the No. 1 person to seek out for answers to your questions about Swampscott.
His accomplishments for the benefit of the town were many, but the one we both consider his “jewel in the crown” is Swampscott’s Lady Deborah Moody Lilac Arboretum. Who else but Louie could have brought such a large, unique and beautiful asset to Swampscott? The Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain has fewer varieties, as well as number of lilacs, than ours, but they boast thousands of visitors in May when the lilacs are in bloom. By comparison, most people here don’t even know the location of Swampscott’s lilac arboretum.
Ours is located on Monument Avenue, just beyond Gov. Charlie Baker’s house extending up to and including parts of Howland Park.
Lady Deborah Moody — the second owner of The Sir John Humphrey House — was labeled “a dangerous woman” and was forced to leave Massachusetts because of her religious beliefs.
Louis Gallo was the visionary who imagined this beautiful and special arboretum by having lilacs planted and paid for by people who could name a bush in memory of a special person in their life as well as to have the arboretum named in memory of Lady Deborah Moody. It was Louie who made this happen.
A way that the town could now honor Louie would be for it to step up and finally trim or even possibly remove the large trees that have shaded the lilacs for years, as well as to trim, straighten and properly care for the lilacs that have been neglected for a number of years.
As a guarantee that this is done in perpetuity, perhaps it would help for a Town Meeting member to sponsor an article for Town Meeting making this action more official and permanent.
Louis A. Gallo and the town of Swampscott deserve a guarantee that this town treasure remains and is maintained for eternity.
Rest in peace, Louie, and be assured the town of Swampscott and its residents will properly care for and keep this beautiful asset forever. Someday in the future we may even see thousands of people viewing Swampscott’s lilacs just as they already do at The Arnold Arboretum.
Douglas B. Maitland
Duncan H. Maitland
Board of Governor Members
Swampscott Historical Society, Inc.
