On Wednesday, September 19, 2018, approximately 180 to 200 (not including the 25 City of Melrose vehicles) public works vehicles participated in a rolling tribute to John Doherty, City of Melrose Public Works employee who passed while doing his job.  The vehicles came from throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. They came with one, two or up to 20 trucks from a community.  A number of  communities pitched in to maintain Melrose public Works operations so that Melrose staff could attend both the wake on Tuesday and funeral on Wednesday.  Some traveled short distances and some traveled extremely long distances.  Those participating came to honor an individual they did not know but admired as a dedicated public works professional.

Massachusetts - John Doherty, City of Melrose DPW Parks and Forestry Division Died from injuries in the performance of his job.

 John Doherty, a member of the public works family passed from injuries sustained while doing the  job he loved.  John Doherty was a Division Foreman for the City of Melrose, Massachusetts DPW Parks and Forestry Divisions.  John passed away on Thursday morning, September 13, 2018.  A fourteen year veteran of the Melrose DPW, John made significant contributions to the City of Melrose through his daily work and pride in his community.  When you look around Melrose, at their beautiful parks and playing fields, the grounds of their schools and municipal buildings and the City’s tree canopy you look at John’s work, leadership and dedication.  John was a Melrose a Melrose resident, a loving husband, father and grandfather and an all-around super guy.  He will be sorely missed by his colleagues in public works and by the entire Melrose community.