LYNN — Walter Proodian loves the city of Lynn, and the city of Lynn loves him too.
Proodian, 91, who was not reappointed to the Water and Sewer Commission on Tuesday, served as chair of the commission’s board for 21 years.
“He was an anchor on that commission; he was so knowledgeable and well-spoken,” said Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi, who served on the commission with Proodian for 12 years. “He had a deep caring for not just the rate payers, but for all the residents in Lynn.”
Before chairing Water and Sewer, Proodian served on the Pine Grove Cemetery Commission for 58 years, after being appointed on May 12, 1964. He was also an honorary member of the Police Chief Association for over 50 years.
Proodian said he always looked forward to starting his mornings going into work and going over the agenda for what needed to be done that day.
“I never missed a meeting and I was always there before everyone else waiting,” he said. “There were times we had to go to special meetings, and sometimes, they couldn’t get a replacement, but they could count on me to always be there.”
Proodian did more than just work for the city. He was drafted out of Lynn after 13 months to serve in Munich, Germany, after World War II.
“What I saw there — I did not want anything like that to ever happen in our city,” he said.
When he returned home, he managed the Uptown Theater in West Lynn, where he met his wife, the late Barbara Proodian, who passed away in 2013. He, along with the staff, would give out dishes to people who came to watch the show.
He then went on to take over the family business, W. Proodian and Sons Co., a carpet cleaning company, after the passing of his father, Walter V. Proodian Sr., who immigrated to the US from Armenia after surviving the Armenian genocide, and his mother, Nora L. Proodian.
Proodian said that his goal as commissioner was to “try and keep as many rates down as possible” and that he wanted to do the best he could for the citizens.
“I was there so that I could help the citizens of Lynn,” he said. “I love this city, and I wish I could do more.”
Rachel Galatis can be reached at [email protected].
