Pulling up your socks

Raymond A. Lamontagne

Maybe one can gain some insight into the way Don McLean lived his life by the way he prepared for his death.

I visited Don at the Lahey Clinic at a time when we both knew that not much time was left. I found him sitting on the edge of his hospital bed pulling up his socks. I teased him about that because "pulling up one's socks" was always one of Don's favorite expressions. I helped him to a chair in the corner of his room and we sat and talked.

Our first subject was the Boston Red Sox. We agreed that they badly needed some pitching, that Rice just didn't seem to hit in the clutch, and that there was a lack of leadership from top management.

“Well, how are you?" I finally said.

"Just fine." Said Don."You know that I know all the key players here so that they take good care of me."

"I know," I said. Don has become president of the Lahey Clinic when it was located in a row of run-down, overcrowded brownstones in downtown Boston. He had led the effort to locate and build a modern, efficient facility just off route 128 in which he was now a patient.

“Is there anything I can do to help? Im not supposed to stay too long.”

"I think everything is under control. Chapin’s doing a good job. He gets along with the Abbots and that’s important. McNemar is getting the hang of the place and I think he’ll do just fine. They’ve kept me in touch. Anyway, Stott always lets me know what's going on. By the way, how do you think your boy Mesics is doing?"

"Fine," I said, knowing that Don was telling me that he was very pleased with how he was leaving things at Andover but that now it was time for me and others like me to pay attention.

"Did you know that I received a draft of a new book on John, 3rd?”

"Yes, I did too. What did you think?"

"I think it's pretty good. I made some notes on some things that they got mixed up on but, on the whole, I thought they did a good job. You know, the Population Council, the ADC, and the JDR 3rd Fund are all in good shape. I think that Blanchette is doing a good job seeing to it that John's responsibilities to these organizations are being met."

“I know,” I responded. I was familiar with the fact that Don’s work with John D. Rockefeller, 3rd had resulted in a number of creative organizations doing important work in fields ranging from population, to public service, to agricultural development, to the arts, and to Asian-American relations.

"How are Martha and the kids?" I asked.

"The kids are all doing well," Don responded with deep satisfaction. They have all checked in. John's been a big help with the insurance. It helps having one of the troops know what that's all about. I reviewed everything with him and with Martha. They all know what to do."

"Well, I guess I better be going. I stayed much longer than I should have." 

I got up to go and Don started to get up as well.

"Please stay put. I can find my own way out. You know, Don, you and I have never been much for sharing our emotions, I just want you to know, man-to-man, that I love you."

Don reached out his hand and said, “Help me get up. I want to walk with you at least as far as I can which will probably be the nurse’s station. I don't think I can go any further."

He was telling me goodbye as only McLean could say it. He was also responding to my expressions of affection for him in the only way he knew how.

We walked together as far as the nurse’s station and I continued down the corridor to the elevator and turned back. There was don standing by the nurse’s station and I continued down the corridor to the elevator and turned back. There was Don standing by the nurse’s station. His shoulders were squared and his head was held high. I bent over and pulled up my socks knowing that he could still see me. I only hope that he didn't see my tears.

Raymond A. Lamontagne was associated with Don McLean in the affairs of Phillips Academy, holding several key positions in alumni activities and capital campaigns. He also served as an associate to John D. Rockefeller, 3rd. He played a leading role in the early years of the Peace Corps.