Tom Gould, Peabody City Councilor and owner of Treadwells Ice Cream
Tom Gould enriches lives. It’s that simple. If you’re lucky enough to know him then you know what I mean. He is one of those rare individuals who genuinely cares about people. And people care back. When he told me in January, 2011 that he was going to run for one of the at-large city council seats in Peabody, the northern suburb of Boston where he lives and works, I thought “perfect”. Apparently the vast majority of Peabody voters felt the same way. At his official kickoff party last May, Tom drew an astounding 700 enthusiastic supporters. When the votes were counted last November, the Salem News reported that not only did Tom win a seat on the city council, he topped the ticket with 9,012 votes, outpacing the four incumbents in the process. No one in Peabody was surprised.
Putting Others First
Tom with a cancer patient at Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers, Mass.
Tom’s gift is putting others first. He once told me that although he loves his work at Treadwell’s, the legendary ice cream store he has owned in Peabody since 1999, it’s the opportunity to serve the community that he finds most gratifying. His service does not go unnoticed. Each year, Mass General honors 100 individuals and groups for their diverse contributions to the fight against cancer. This year, Tom Gould has been chosen as one of the honorees.
On a Personal Note
Treadwells Ice Cream is something of a phenomenon. It’s open all year long and despite what common sense may suggest, you are as likely to wait in line on a blustery Saturday in February as on a blistering Sunday in August. But it’s more than the ice cream that draws people. It’s knowing that Tom will ask you about your family, your job, your health, your life. And its knowing that he will listen to your answers. Through the years many young men and women have worked for Tom and his wife Sharon serving up ice cream to locals and bemused tourists. My daughter was one of them. From the beginning he saw her basic goodness and value as a human being. He was patient, kind, generous and interested in what she had to say. That’s Tom’s special gift. He’s that way with everyone. I remember listening to conversations between my parents and grandparents when I was kid growing up in Brooklyn. When the talk turned to members of our community it was clear to me, though I didn’t yet know what the word meant, that the highest compliment was to be called a Mensch1. Tom Gould is a Mensch!
And Now Back to You
I have written about someone I know personally. If you were writing this post, who would you write it about? What are the qualities that make someone worth knowing?
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1. Mensch: a German derived Yiddish word originally meaning “human being.” A person of integrity and honor; “a stand-up guy”; someone who does the right thing.