Bernardston, Massachusetts is a small town known for its sense of family. It has a reputation of “Taking care of its own.” It has a population of about 2,100 until last week when it lost one its greatest citizens.
Eddie was the kind of guy that heard about a breakfast place being robbed and showed up with funds to help them, or the donut shop that needed money for their ancillary system, or another resident with housing problems and so on. The list goes on for a country mile.
My husband and I met him as newcomers and he welcomed us like family. He would keep an eye on our farm stand while we were working, chase the snakes out of our wood pile and for 11 years kept our lawn top notch in exchange for a shepherd’s pie or a meatloaf dinner. He was the world’s greatest neighbor, the truest friend and a big piece of our family.
Living next door to Eddie and his wife Maureen was “old-fashioned wonderful.” On warm nights they would sit in the bug house that he had built years earlier. It was covered in twinkle lights and always smelled like berry pies. We could hear old Patsy Cline songs drifting through the hazy summer evening. Eddie and his wife knew all of the words. It was absolutely magical as if time just stopped there to take a break from the crazy of the world.
Everyone from everywhere knew Eddie. He served in Korea, had his own house painting business and for the last 45 years or so, had an antique collectables shop in his barn. Folks would drop by to explore, to shop, but mostly just to gab with Eddie. His daily visits to Marshalls for tickets, jelly donuts and coffee were all about saying hello and finding out about the latest “skinny in town.”
Bernardston is the kind of town that always feels like home because of residents like Eddie Sky. Last week Eddie passed away at the age of 91. This small town lost one of it very best family members. Eddie was a piece of so many lives and so many memories that I feel certain he will always be remembered. Sadly, he is already missed.
Leslie and Paul Cameron live in Northfield.