Click here to subscribe today or Login.
BY STEPHANIE BOMBAY sbombay@leader.net
Thursday, February 03, 2000 Page: 3
Walter Serafin has shoveled the sidewalk for a woman in the East End
section of Wilkes-Barre for four years. He also works as a crossing guard for
the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. About Walter
NAME: Walter Serafin AGE: 63 HOMETOWN: Wilkes-Barre BACKGROUND: In addition
to a working as a crossing guard in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District,
Serafin spends snowy afternoons like he did throughout childhood — removing
snow.
Editor’s note: Stefanie Bombay . reporter for Times Leader -Greater
Wilkes-Barre, spent some time during a recent snowfall with Walter Serafin.
The 63-year-old has shoveled snow in the city since he was a child.
WILKES-BARRE — It’s a little before 4 o’clock and snow is falling.
Walter Serafin is concluding the afternoon portion of his daily job. For
the past hour, Serafin wielded a small stop sign to ensure the safety of
children exiting Mackin Elementary School in the city’s East End section.
Now that all the children have gone and the snowfall is getting heavier, it
is time for Serafin’s other job: shoveling snow. It is a task the 63-year-old
has been doing since childhood.
Serafin grew up on Pennsylvania Avenue in Wilkes-Barre where he and his
siblings would complete the winter chore before heading to the nearby coal
banks to go sleigh-riding.
“Me and my sisters and brothers, we had a lot of fun in them days,”
Serafin recalled.
Over the years, he continued to clear the walkway in front of the family
homestead while working in local shoe factories. In 1977, Serafin added
crossing guard duty to his work detail.
Four years ago, he retired from factory work, but continued on as a
crossing guard. Now he fills his spare time clearing the sidewalk for an
80-year-old woman who lives near his post in East End.
One day he noticed her walk needed to be cleared so he asked her if she had
a shovel he could use and got to work. He began shoveling snow for other
residents along the street.
Over the years the Wilkes-Barre woman, who did not want to be identified,
and Serafin developed an understanding. If it snows, he comes by to shovel.
The two never discussed fees. Serafin never asks; he accepts whatever is
offered.
“I do it because it’s exercise. It keeps me going,” explains Serafin as
he removes his fluorescent orange safety vest. Serafin then climbs the steps
to the second-story porch of the house he stands next to before and after
school.
The house’s owner lets him stash his crossing guard gear there.
“Hey Joe, I’ll be right back,” Serafin yells to Joseph Andrews, who
arrived in his car to offer his friend a ride home.
Across the street, Serafin gets to work.
The snow is not deep yet — only about an inch. Winters have been easy the
last couple of years, Serafin said. He lost most of his clients to death but
keeps this appointment every time it snows.
Serafin finishes the day’s task in less than 10 minutes. He clears the
front porch steps, the walkway in front of the house and around the side. He
makes a path over the grass to the driveway, around the car, as well as
cleaning the car itself. As the snowfall gets heavier, the area Serafin
cleared a few minutes ago is covered again.
“It’s beautiful in a way,” Serafin said looking up at flakes clumping in
the air before hitting the ground. “Maybe the kids will get the day off.”
Either way, Serafin knows he’ll be back tomorrow to remove whatever falls
tonight.