Oh my, learning that the Bank of Canton is leaving Brookline made me so sad. What a loss for our community!
The Bank of Canton was not just a bank. Under the direction, guidance and innovative leadership of Assistant Vice President Elaine Joseph, it was a center for relationship building; professional, business, community, charitable and, yes, personal.
Elaine worked so hard you always felt welcomed at the Bank of Canton. Nothing was too much for Elaine, she participated in almost every organization in town – BNI, Chamber, Rotary, JA Lynch Committee, Brookline Community Mental Health – to name but a few. In addition, she spearheaded the Knitting for the Vets, where close to two hundred articles were knitted by local knitters yearly and donated to Bill McGroarty at the Brookline Vet Center for holiday distribution. She also had a mitten tree and toy drive at the holidays for those less fortunate.
Elaine also took risks dancing with The Brookline Stars for the Rotary fundraiser in 2014. She raised over $17,000 for The Brookline Center and Rotary and the next year worked hard for Casey Hatchet and helped her raise over $17,000 for the JA Lynch Committee Against Domestic Violence and Brookline Rotary.
What a loss. And the reason given for leaving us: high rents???? If that is the reason something has to be done in the town. Landlords need to see the value of tenants when considering rent increases.
Bank of Canton’s leaving will leave a void that cannot be filled because of their personnel and Elaine Joseph in particular. When she came here eleven years ago BOC was unknown. Now, having increased deposits by ten percent in just the last year it is woven into our communal fabric.
And yes I became a personal friend. I hope lifelong no matter where Elaine goes next.
By Susan K Howards Esq