Bag boy Pittsfield store’s treasure 90-year-old brings good humor to job

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PITTSFIELD – Twelve years ago, the manager of the Pittsfield Shop ‘n Save, Chris Petersen, told his checkout manager Judy Pomahatch that he had hired a new bag boy, a position traditionally held by high school students.

But Pomahatch could tell by the look in Petersen’s eye that something was up. “What’s the catch?” she asked. “He’s 78 years old,” he answered.

On Friday, that bag boy celebrated his 90th birthday doing what he has done three times a week for the past decade: Ray Hamlin worked.

OK, there was a little bit of extra excitement: He also renewed his driver’s license.

Co-workers and customers at the local supermarket agree that Ray is an invaluable part of the Pittsfield community.

Come through the checkout line on Ray’s shift and the reason is clear: It’s all in the smile.

Ray smiles with his whole face – his eyes twinkle, his cheeks raise up into little apples, he resembles a leprechaun with the giggles.

When asked whether working at age 90 is his secret for staying so youthful, Ray is quick to say no. Keeping busy isn’t his secret, he says, it’s all about attitude.

“It’s being happy, that’s what does it,” he says, grinning from ear to ear.

Whether it’s packing eggs carefully or not mixing cleaning products and bread in the same bag, Ray gives care and attention to his job rarely seen in younger people. “All my life I have worked with the public,” he says. “I love it. If someone comes up and I can help them, they appreciate it.”

Helping is one thing Ray is an expert at. He rounds up errant shopping carts. He picks up litter in the parking lot. He straightens shelves. He unloads a full shopping cart for a busy customer. He grows bushels of vegetables in his home garden and then brings them to work for everyone to share.

He bakes his famous cranberry pineapple pie. “It’s Roger the meat cutter’s favorite,” he says with his ever-present smile.

From his post at the end of the checkout, Ray jokes and teases his way through the day.

To one customer he recommends a good restaurant. “Your eggs are up front,” he advises another. His conversation is short and always sweet. To nearly every customer he says, “Have a good day,” and means it.

To some people, Ray isn’t even there. They appear oblivious to the slight man in the red cap and red smock packing their bags. But most customers take a second to say hello or chat. Many call him by name.

Bobbi Lykens works behind the customer service desk with a front-row seat on Ray’s working day. “He walks in the door happy, and he never stops,” she says. “The younger ones, they might put a foot up or lean on the counter. Not him.”

Pomahatch said the investment Peterson made 12 years ago in hiring a senior citizen has paid off immensely. “Everyone loves him,” she says. “I have never seen him unhappy or in a bad mood. Just his smile brightens everyone’s day.”

Originally from Massachusetts, Ray was one of 10 children. For 32 years he was the tree warden for the town of Bridgewater, Mass. He raised three stepchildren and a son of his own. He admits, “I spoiled them all rotten.”

As time marched on, Ray retired and moved to Newport in the late 1980s. He stayed for only three years.

“Trailer parks are good for old folks but not for me,” he says. “I couldn’t have a garden there.” So he moved to Burnham where he and his wife of 50 years, Janice, who is a youthful 79, raise vegetables in a large family garden, sing at area nursing homes and faithfully attend church.

Upon his retirement, however, Ray discovered that the town he had worked for in Massachusetts had never taken Social Security from his paychecks and that he needed to work 10 years more in order to qualify for payments.

“I had a pension from Massachusetts,” he says, “and for a while I did woodworking. I made toys for the children.”

So in 1978, Ray approached Peterson about becoming a bag boy.

Peterson says that it was one of his easiest hiring decisions, that it was easier to see Ray’s abilities rather than his limitations. “He’s exactly the kind of person we want up front,” says the manager. “He’s a bundle of energy. You can train people to bag groceries, but you can’t train them to be naturally friendly, kind and caring. He is just quite a guy and I wish we had four more like him.”

The 10 years he needed to fulfill Social Security requirements were up two years ago, so why does Ray still work? “Because of all the ladies,” he jokes. “They keep me young.”

Ray works four hours each Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. “My doctor says ‘That’s enough, Ray,’ and I listen to him,” he says.

Dean “Bud” Homestead, founder of the store, says, “He’s a good man. He puts some of these younger people to shame.”

Pomahatch keeps a close eye on Ray, discreetly watching to make sure he doesn’t overdo things. “If it is too hot, she won’t let me go outside,” says Ray, “and she won’t let me push more than three carriages at a time.”

Pomahatch says that between Ray and another bag boy, Joe Young (who will be 82 on Christmas Day), “When they are up front, that’s 170 years of living out there.”

And Ray lives his simple life to the fullest. Greeting customers, picking apples for his co-workers, baking special pies and keeping the parking lot clean are all in a day’s work.

And his favorite part of the job?

“The customers,” he says with a grin.