BOSTON — When 77-year-old Robert Sawtelle’s TV wasn’t working Thursday, he called up Comcast.
A repairman and trainee arrived at his West Roxbury home and fixed the problem, but that wasn’t the extent of their service call.
“As he was leaving, he said, ‘You know, your stairs are awfully slippery, Mr. Sawtelle,” the West Roxbury senior said. “I said, ‘Yeah, it’s a little hard for me.’ He said, ‘Do you have a shovel?’ And my eyes widened. I didn’t know if he was joking or not.”
The worker Sawtelle identified as Eric took Sawtelle’s shovel and got to work, clearing all the snow around his home. Sawtelle snapped pictures of Eric shoveling and shared them with Boston 25 News.
“He shoveled all my stairs, the whole sidewalk,” Sawtelle said. “And he was so humble about it. I tried to give him a five-dollar coffee certificate. And he said, ‘Oh, no, no, no.’ Clearly, he thinks people should be this way.”
Sawtelle said a gesture like this one for a senior is not only helpful; it’s a touching reminder they’re not alone, especially when quarantining at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Those old-timers watching, I think they may say to themselves, they may say, ‘You know what? They remembered that we’re here. We haven’t been forgotten. See this nice thing that happened to this old-timer?’” Sawtelle said. “And it might just lift their spirits a little bit that they haven’t been forgotten.”
Sawtelle wanted to thank Eric – not only an efficient repairman but a kind soul – and let him know the impression he made.
“It’s just heartwarming,” Sawtelle said. “And I hope this guy gets recognition for it.”
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