Taylor D’Ambra

Amelian “Skinny” Pastuszak with the Boston Post Cane

In a world that is constantly growing and changing, there are few individuals that have experienced it all over the past 100 years.  A small group of  individuals have lived through history first hand and are able to share their wisdom with the rest of us.  Did you know that we have one of these individuals living in our hometown of Abington?

On Thursday, January 25th, 2024, Amelian “Skinny” Pastuszak was awarded The Boston Post Cane by Kevin Donovan, Selectman of Abington.  In August 1909 the Boston Post newspaper provided town Selectmen in various towns a 14-carat gold headed cane.  The Selectmen were asked to provide the cane to the oldest living male citizen in their towns per the compliments of the Boston Post.  The resident needed to be raised in Abington and lived here their entire life.  After winning the right to vote with the 19th amendment to the Constitution in 1920, women protested that they were not eligible to be awarded this special honor.  In 1930 they changed the criteria to allow women to be eligible to be awarded the cane.  There were 431 canes distributed and according to the information from 1960 there are only 14 canes still located in New England.  The original Abington cane is proudly on display at the town hall.

Over the past 103 years, Amelian “Skinny” Pastuszak, a marine veteran, has accomplished quite a bit during his life.  Skinny grew up on Bates Street in Abington and attended Abington Schools.  After Abington High he worked as a butcher at a shop where J’s Barbershop is currently located.  At the age 21, he entered the Marine Corps during WWII and served in the South Pacific in the Supply Outfit Unit.  Skinny served for 3 years and shared that he learned he was “capable of doing many things and I was fortunate for all the opportunities I was given in life.”  Once he returned home, he attended Wentworth Institute for 2 years, obtaining his Associates Degree in carpentry and also earned his cement license. He worked in many jobs throughout his life, including teaching at Southeastern Vocational High School for 15 years.  At the age of 28, he married the love of his life, Veronica.  He purchased land on Wales Street in Abington and built a home from scratch for him and Veronica to live in. Amazingly it only took him a few months to build the home and he also built all the furniture inside.  This is the house he still resides in today.  Skinny and Veronica were married for 75 years, sharing a lifelong love. Veronica once shared that the reason she felt they both lived so long was because she grew all of their fruits and vegetables in their home garden and all the love they had for each other. Skinny and Veronica had a son named John.

Today, Skinny enjoys spending time with his son, daughter in law,  granddaughters and great grandchildren, Cole and Henry.  When asked what his secret to living to 103 years old, he shared that in the marines he ate ½ a grapefruit everyday for breakfast. He has continued to eat ½ a grapefruit everyday of his life, so maybe it’s the grapefruit! Some parting advice that he shared with us  for high school students was that he felt “it’s important to treat others the way you want to be treated and keep away from drugs.”  Reflecting on Skinny’s life and everything he shared, a big takeaway was that it’s important to appreciate everything the world gives us and take every experience to learn and grow.  Always appreciate the simple things in this world and keep the ones you love close.