Senior Spotlight: Carmella Hunt

Nearly a year ago, the Westwood Town Clerk’s Office and Council on Aging came together to bestow a special honor upon Carmella “Millie” Hunt, recognizing her as the newest recipient of the revered Boston Post Cane. In this time-honored tradition, initiated by The Boston Post in 1909, the symbolic cane is presented to the person who holds the distinction of being the town’s eldest member. Millie held the honor as Westwood’s eldest until December 14, when she passed away at the incredible age of 103.

The tradition of the cane began in 1909 when Edwin Grozier, a publisher of The Boston Post, forwarded to the Board of Selectmen (in 700 towns across New England) a 14K gold-headed ebony cane with the request that it be presented with the compliments of The Boston Post, to the oldest male of the town to be used by him as long as he lives (or moves from the town), and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it. Not until women gained the right to vote in 1920 did the Post finally give its blessing for women to possess the cane in 1930.

Due to the historical value of the cane, it is kept in a glass case at the Westwood Council on Aging with each recipient’s name inscribed on a plaque next to the cane. At the ceremony, Millie was presented with a gold replica pin of the cane as a keepsake of this momentous occasion.

Millie’s daughter, Lucette, shared that “[The ceremony] was quite a celebration and we were all very honored that she held the title as the oldest in town.” Less than a month before her passing, Millie celebrated her 103rd birthday.

Having called Westwood home since 1959, Millie certainly earned her retirement from preparing and serving lunch in the former Pine Hill School cafeteria during the years that her three children attended to working 18 years in the administration office of the Westwood Public Schools Superintendent. Cheers to a life well-lived and thanks to Millie for giving so much of herself to our town. We are grateful.

Thanks to Lucette Nicoll for nominating Carmella to be this month’s Senior Spotlight! If you would like to nominate a Westwood Senior Citizen to be featured in a future Senior Spotlight, please contact Westwood Living Content Coordinator, Diana Bezdedeanu, at dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com