Photo/Ed Karvoski Jr.
By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Marlborough – City Councilor Ed Clancy has marched in the Marlborough Labor Day Parade each year since he was elected to represent Ward 6 in 2002. A former educator at Marlborough High School (MHS) for 36 years, he has often seen his former students on the sidelines as they wave and chant, “Mr. Clancy!”
“Those kids are now adults and still want to be recognized when they see me,” he said.
As the grand marshal of this year's 63rd annual parade, he'sl ride in style along with his wife, Barbara, in a 1967 Plymouth Fury convertible that was restored by George Larassa, one of his former students. Clancy considers the parade an important tradition for the city.
“It brings a lot of people to Marlborough,” he noted. “There were some councilors in the past who didn's want to have a Labor Day parade. I'se always been a supporter of the parade because it gives a fabric to the community. It shows that we like to get together and have other people come into our community and enjoy the day.”
Clancy has been a member of the Marlborough Conservation Commission since he was appointed by former Mayor Fred Cole in 1967. He has served as the commission's chair since 1986. The environment and conservation sparked his interest in childhood as a Boy Scout.
“I was always interested in the outdoors,” he said. “I used to camp in a pup tent in the same area where I's living now. Marlborough was very rural at the time.”
In 2011, the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions recognized Clancy for his longtime service with the Environmental Service Award at a ceremony held at Holy Cross College.
“I like the people who I work with on the commission and I like the work we do,” he said. “We work with developers to try to make sure that the environment is secure and their investment in construction is protected, too.”
After teaching at the Bromfield School in Harvard, Clancy joined the staff of MHS as a science teacher in 1965.
“The best part of working in education is seeing the kids” eagerness to learn,” he said. “I taught everything from beginning science to advance biology.”
Clancy also filled a void at MHS when he developed a varsity girls” hockey team.
“Twenty-three girls wanted to play hockey,” he said. “Two of them went to Providence College on full scholarships.”
In addition to assistant coaching varsity boys” basketball, he volunteered to coach youth hockey and soccer when his children played the sports.
In 1978, he began serving as MHS assistant principal until he retired in 2001.
“When I retired, I didn's miss the paperwork that was involved with an administrative job; I missed meeting and working with the kids,” he said.
Soon after, Clancy announced his candidacy for city councilor and campaigned door-to-door throughout Ward 6.
“I walked the entire ward and visited every house,” he recalled. “That was the best thing for me because I lost all kinds of weight.”
He appreciates this year's parade theme of “Marlborough: An Active Community.”
“Marlborough is a community on the move,” he said. “We have the New England Sports Center and the Yawkey Sports Training Center for the Special Olympics.”
Also achieving increased activity in the city are the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation and the Marlborough Downtown Village, he noted.
Clancy is hopeful for pleasant weather Monday, Sept. 1, when he'sl ride through downtown Marlborough.
“It's not going to rain on my parade,” he forecasted. “It's going to be a nice day.”
