Tony Schiavone, who has delivered the mail in Old Greenbelt for 36 years, retired from the U.S. Postal Service on December 30. Yes, Tony has a last name – although most only know him by his first name. And neither rain nor snow nor heat … kept Tony from his appointed rounds. Once residents of Hillside, Greenhill, Eastway and the streets that curve off of these areas heard that Tony was retiring, plans were put into action. Kathy Reynolds and Kathy Legendre (from Eastway) organized a wonderful reception for residents, friends and family at the Greenbelt Fire Department on December 27. Many homes in Woodland Hills posted signs to honor Tony and his career. And at least one Letter to the Editor appeared in this newspaper.
Although Tony only lived in Greenbelt for a few years, there is a Greenbelt connection. He married Kathleen Fitzgerald who grew up on Empire Place and his older children attended St. Hugh’s School. Tony reminisced that when he began delivering mail in Greenbelt, the Post Office was still located in Old Greenbelt under the Co-op Grocery Store. He said he “walked the route,” picking up mail and delivering it to the areas around Southway and the city offices. He worked several different routes but was assigned to his final route for many years. Of course, the Post Office is now in Greenbelt East, so residents would look for Tony’s mail truck on the street and know that he was coming.
Tony was much loved by Greenbelters. Reynolds summed it up: “Tony has been our dedicated, heroic, fabulous and proficient mail carrier for 36 years.” Debbie Coulter presented him with a picture she had painted of him in his uniform standing in front of Greenbelt row houses. The painting is titled Thank you for always doing a First Class Job. Tony was also presented with a crown inscribed The Legend has Retired.
A man of few words, Tony expressed thanks to his wife and family for allowing him to retire on his own terms. The family is moving to Delaware where he plans on relaxing, at least for a while.