Endicott College is showcasing a new multimedia exhibit this academic year that features stirring first-person stories around a common theme of tenacity, humanity and hope from across the campus. It’s called Gulls With Grit.
Inspired by this, here I celebrate people in our North Shore community who lead by example. Heroes in our midst, past and present, who are driven to make a difference and put their pedal to the mettle.
Bill Cummings
Bill Cummings is the quietest billionaire you’ll ever want to meet. Starting from humble beginnings, the fruit punch and VapoRub salesman turned commercial real estate developer has pledged, with his wife Joyce, to give away half of their wealth to charity. They are the first Massachusetts couple to sign the Giving Pledge established by Warren Buffet and the Gateses. To date their Cummings Foundation has awarded more than $600 million to a wide variety of causes including: nonprofits, human services, healthcare, justice, education, and education. The Foundation donated $20 million to Endicott’s Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences. The building serves as the final piece of the school’s connected academic quad.
Cummings always had a keen eye for relatively low cost suburban sites like Beverly’s Cummings Center, the former United Shoe Machinery headquarters, and TradeCenter 128 in Woburn. The key to his success is a rarity in commercial real estate. He made most of his real estate deals with cash. No debt.
Retirement isn’t part of Cummings’ vernacular. “I don’t want to stop working, but neither do I want to work to just accumulate money,” said the 91-year-old. “What else am I going to do with it?
“It’s the opportunity to do things to continue to make a difference.”
Wayne Marquis
Former long-standing Danvers Town Manager Wayne Marquis, who died in 2022, was the quintessential humble, tireless, selfless politician. A steady, quite, and genteel leader. He was a decent man devoted to his town and family. Somewhat of a rare breed in certain political circles today. Wayne dedicated his life to public service, starting as an intern then rising to become town manager where he served with distinction for 36 years.
His tenure covered a time of tremendous growth for the town where he grew up.
A lifelong Danvers resident, Marquis was a champion of the Danvers Rail Trail. The pocket park in his memory, and renaming of the Rail Trail now known as Wayne Marquis Rail Trail, are in recognition of his rich legacy.
The park is a bucolic place to sit and reflect, a fitting tribute to the man’s quiet thoughtful nature. He was aptly described as “the most influential person ever to live in Danvers.” Connection was his gift. Wayne built bridges between people. He dedicated his life to make Danvers a better place.
Dave McGillivray
“Sleep is over-rated.”
That’s how living legend Dave McGillivray describes his scary grueling work and exercise regimen. Dave is an interviewee as part of my curricula’s Brand Builders series.
An athlete, businessman, and founder/owner/president of DMSE Sports Enterprises which organizes some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events including the Boston Marathon, Dave started his career with a heralded run across the country in 1978 raising money for The Jimmy Fund. All of New England was tracking him as he finished to a standing ovation in Fenway Park.
“Three days after returning from that I was handed a termination letter from my boss,” Dave said. A rude awakening. “That was the defining moment in my life.
“I started putting on events to promote my athletic footwear and clothing store in my hometown of Medford, and realized that I liked it more than putting shoes on people’s feet.”
Event management companies didn’t exist at the time. He took a gamble and it paid off. Today DMSE has managed, directed and consulted on over 1,500 events globally including the Olympic Games, world championship triathlons, and the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Everything from this to the Humpty Dumpty 5K.
Dave says that his work is a labor of love. “I don’t just put on road races. I help to raise people’s self esteem.”
These three luminaries would occupy the first wing of my North Shore Hall of Fame. Always putting their best foot forward for the greater good. Leaders with steely resolve fueled by limitless energy, determination, and guile.
North Shore mettle. It shines like gold.
Steve Steinberg lives in Danvers and is an adjunct professor in Endicott College’s Gerrish School of Business Graduate Program. He is a frequent contributor to The Salem News.