SAUGUS — When it comes to measuring the work Joe Attubato did for the town of Saugus, Bob Davis is in a unique position.
Davis is the field director at World Series Park, the baseball field built after the Saugus American Little League All-Stars went to the Little League World Series in 2003. He has worked arduously to help bring state tournament games into the park as well as Special Olympic events.
And, he said, Attubato, when he ran the Saugus Department of Public Works, helped him every step along the way.
Now, Davis wants to return the favor. He wants the DPW building, located on Main Street on the Wakefield side of Route 1, named for the late longtime director, who died in August.
“I kind of want to get this out,” said Davis, who was friends with Attubato, particularly once he retired after 28 years of running the DPW.
“We welcome anyone who wants to be involved in this.”
The proposal to name the building has to go before the Town Meeting next year. That involves collecting signatures on a petition.
“If it’s to just get on the warrant at a special Town Meeting, you have to have at least 100 signatures,” Davis said. “But we’re content to wait for the regular meeting. But we plan on getting way more than we need.”
Davis and the group behind the bid to rename the building believe this is an appropriate tribute to Attubato. He was there when it was built, as he worked for the DPW for more than 50 years.
“Joe loved the town of Saugus and was honored to work for the town for more than 50 years,” Davis said. “Joe grew up in Saugus, and attended Saugus schools. He will be remembered for helping lots of people and always trying to make Saugus a better place to live.”
David said Attubato was “a very cooperative guy” when World Series Park was built.
“He did his best to make it happen,” Davis said. “He spearheaded a lot of the things we did.”
And, said Davis, “he was there for a lot of the things we did at the park. He was there for the tournament, and would always be there for our Special Olympics events.”
Davis said Attubato could get emotional sometimes, “but he cared for the town. Anything he could do, he did.
“He did anything he could to support the town, and to make things happen. Anything that was under his auspices, he got done.”