Brookline Residents Retire After Distinguished Careers
By Trevor Meek
BROOKLINE, MA — Both Claude and Ellen, co-founders and residents of SHI’s flagship program in Brookline, Massachusetts, woke up at the break of dawn nearly every single day for well over 30 years; they braved every kind of inclement weather to board trains and buses, committed all of their energy to careers they were passionate for and, just recently, they both retired.
Now that they’re finally retired, Claude and Ellen still wake up early in the morning nearly every single day, brave every kind of inclement weather to board trains and buses, and still commit all of their energy to things they are passionate for. They just allow themselves a little more time for naps these days.
Claude Fourel on her last day with Gateway Director Rae Edelson
Claude has been a professional artist at Gateway Arts in Brookline since the early 1980s. According to longtime Gateway Program Director Ted Lampe, “Claude has been here almost since the beginning. Her mother Marguerite and her sister Jeannie did so much to help support us through the years. We’re going to miss Claude.”
Over the course of three decades Claude developed and mastered her unique and instantly recognizable aesthetic—depictions of nature bustling with color and a sense of youthful wonderment. Her art work, especially her paintings and post cards, have always been highly sought after in Gateway’s galleries and gift shop. In September of this year Claude went to Gateway for the last time in her role as professional artist and, rather than taking it easy on her final day, she kept busy. Feverishly as ever she worked to finish a project she’d been toiling away on for weeks and when that was finally completed shortly after lunch she started working on new sketches. After all, what’s an artist to do?
Ellen remembers the exact day she became a courier for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue—it was October 17, 1983. She recalls her late father helping her apply for the job and how proud he and her mother were when she landed the career position.
For 35 years Ellen carried mail from the Massachusetts State House to the various government offices in the McCormack building across the street. She would spend 8 hours a day or more on her feet and always on the move, a part of the job that she says she actually misses some days. What she misses most, however, are all of the friends she made through the years. “My co-workers never missed my birthday and I never missed celebrating theirs,” Ellen remembers fondly. “State troopers who worked in the building, people in the offices, custodians… they all became my friends and some were like family.” Ellen’s career spanned seven gubernatorial administrations dating back to Michael Dukakis, and her commitment to her work has been recognized by several of those governors. Most recently, in celebration of her 30th anniversary as a courier in 2013, Ellen was personally awarded a certificate of recognition from Governor Deval Patrick. In 2018 Governor Charlie Baker honored Ellen’s 35 years of career service by awarding her the Governor’s Citation in Recognition, while both the Mass. State Senate and House of Representatives formally extended their gratitude and congratulations, as well. On her final day of work, Ellen says, “I was shocked… totally shocked when I got there.” What she found when she arrived that day were all of her co-workers and friends she’d made through the years, as well as several family members, who were waiting to greet her with a surprise party. “I couldn’t stop crying,” she says, “it was a beautiful day.”
Sitting idly at home post-retirement was never a consideration for either Claude nor Ellen. Only days after she’d retired, Claude started attending the Great Day for Seniors program in Roslindale where she’s enjoyed the change of scenery and meeting new friends. While she may not be selling her artwork any longer, she is still always at work on a new drawing or concept. Likewise, it wasn’t long after her own retirement that Ellen had the itch to venture out into new social circles. Five days a week she visits the Brookline Senior Center where she volunteers and enjoys practicing her newly discovered passions: meditation and bingo.
Congratulations, Claude and Ellen!