SAUGUS — In 1987, Michael Maruzzi suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury while playing varsity hockey for Saugus High School. Today, his friend, Jon Bernard, is reaching out to the community for some help regarding Maruzzi’s medical needs.
“Michael and I have known each other for a long time. We both grew up in Saugus and my backyard was kind of diagonally connected to his backyard,” Bernard said.
He added that Maruzzi was a little younger than he, but they and their parents became friends.
“I started teaching at Saugus in 1987, the year Michael got hurt. I was a long-term sub at the time and then worked there until 2003,” he said.
Bernard explained that after the injury, Maruzzi went on to attend Boston University before joining Bernard as a teacher in Saugus in 1992, with Maruzzi teaching math and Bernard teaching English. However, Bernard would move to the assistant principal position in 1995 and eventually leave Saugus High in 2003. The two remained friends and still are to this day, even with Maruzzi living in Florida now.
“We just stayed in touch. When I go to Florida for the winter, Michael only lives an hour away. I visited him a couple of times when I went last year,” he said.
Bernard then focused on why he had set up a GoFundMe for his friend in the first place. He emphasized that Maruzzi is not in decline, but the constant ups and downs of his medical needs have caused a major financial burden for him and his wife, Arlene.
“There have been health challenges. He bounces back quite honestly. The guy is a total fighter. But, as a result of these ongoing medical issues and the associated expenses it’s taking a toll financially,” he said. “I mean, he’s been in a wheelchair for 38 years.”
Bernard highlighted the fact that Maruzzi was more than just a math teacher. He connected with the kids he taught.
“He taught them how to be good people — how to get along in life, coaching them through problems. Michael was definitely that for a lot of kids, particularly kids that were troubled or unsure of themselves. He was just a good tender kind of ear,” he said.
Maruzzi’s work went beyond the classroom staying involved as an advisor, peer leadership and peer mediation.
“He was interested in them as people and I think that’s where a lot of his gravitas came from,” Bernard said. He said that Maruzzi remains involved in the lives of those he taught and many in the community have respect for all he has done.
To help the Maruzzi family, you can donate to the GoFundMe page set up by Bernard: Michael’s Medical Fund: A Call For Kindness.
