SAUGUS — Benedetto “Benny” Coviello, a familiar face to customers at the Stop & Shop at 164 Main St., retired on Thursday after 30 years of service at the store.
“Benny loved his job,” Toni Gillis, his sister, said. “He rarely missed a day of work in 30 years.”
Most of all, Gillis said, Coviello will miss the people that he spoke to, from fellow coworkers to customers.
The store manager at the Stop & Shop location where Coviello works, Glenn Sanford, commended him for his service.
“For the past 30 years, Benny has created a legacy of kindness here at Stop & Shop with his dedication to helping customers and his fellow team members,” Sanford said. “He is a beloved member of the Saugus community and we wish him a very happy retirement and a well-deserved rest. Our team at Stop & Shop Saugus has been incredibly fortunate to have the privilege of working with him for all these years.”
Fran Blandini, a front end manager at the store, had similar sentiments, saying that Coviello is “one in a million.”
Blandini met Coviello at Stop & Shop, where they have worked together for 16 years.
“Benny never forgets a face or a name,” Blandini said. “If he met you, he would remember you and your name.”
“He’s like the mayor!” she added.
While Coviello’s time as an employee at Stop & Shop has come to a close, Blandini said that he frequents the store to shop for groceries, and she expects his visits to continue.
“Everybody knows Benny, and everyone’s going to miss Benny,” Blandini said. “I’d have a parade for Benny if I could.”
