DENNIS MCNAMARA'S WAY WITH CONSERVATION PRESERVED
BY DENNIS SHAUGHNESSEY, VALLEY DISPATCH STAFF
Article Launched: 06/20/2008 11:38:47 AM EDT



DRACUT -- His body has betrayed him, but his mind is still sharp and his sense of humor is still intact.

Dracut resident Dennis McNamara, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in December of 2006, laughed at all the good-natured jokes hurled his way during the dedication of Dennis P. McNamara Way on June 12.

"Where else but Dracut can a kid terrorize and wreak havoc throughout an entire neighborhood, and when you grow up, they name a park after you?" joked lifelong friend, Selectman James O'Loughlin, who unveiled the wooden sign along with Selectmen Chairman Bob Cox.

During his 23 years with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, Dennis McNamara has helped to preserve more than 5,000 acres of important wildlife habitat and conservation land in Middlesex and Essex counties. The handicapped-accessible walking trail in the Kenwood section of Dracut now bears his name. Located off of Kensington Street, just a short distance from where McNamara grew up, the short trail

opens into a beautiful vista near a babbling brook.
Town Manager Dennis Piendak called it "an oasis."

Nearly 100 people attended the dedication and applauded as McNamara pulled into the small parking lot in his 2002 Ford Mustang convertible, his fiancee, Debbie Ritchotte, at the wheel. Friends helped him into a wheelchair that brought him to the veiled sign at the trail's entrance.

Barely able to speak above a whisper, McNamara gave O'Loughlin a prepared statement to read.

"In my estimation, James O'Loughlin is the best selectman this town has ever seen," read O'Loughlin, drawing raucous laughter from the crowd of about 100 people.

"Why, that was very nice of you, Dennis," quipped O'Loughlin, before reading the actual statement.

Former Selectman Warren Shaw joked about McNamara's youthful reputation as a ladies' man. "I just think it's appropriate that we name this section of town after Dennis, considering when he was younger he must have made good use of these woods," Shaw said.

But when the tone got serious, speakers, which included state Rep. Colleen Garry, told McNamara how much his efforts in land protection has been appreciated.

"There's nobody more deserving of this kind of tribute," Cox said. "This is just a small token of the appreciation that comes from an entire community."


http://www.thevalleydispatch.com/dracut/ci_9647291