Last week’s passing of Helen Cesareo recalls an earlier era at city hall, when she held a department head position during Chelsea’s pre-receivership period. Those who conducted business at city hall knew her as a thoughtful, well-mannered woman of considerable competence—someone familiar to nearly everyone in the city who had reason to visit the municipal building. Her death serves as a poignant reminder of how swiftly a lifetime can pass. During her years of active service, city hall seemed like a permanent fixture that would endure unchanged. Yet her passing underscores just how dramatically city hall has transformed since her tenure there. The changes that have taken place would likely have earned her approval. We extend our sympathies to her family, and particularly to Lucy Brown, whom we know well.
Helen Cesareo
