Head Of The Charles Regatta 2017 HOCR Program | Page 39

the bridge arches. The event went off
safely and served as an opportunity to
celebrate our public service employees
and first responders with Jack Bakey,
again, leading the effort.
Terrorism struck again in 2013 with
the Boston Marathon Bombings. As the
largest sports event in the Boston area,
the Marathon has consistently served
as a model for the HOCR and what
happened on that April day served to
rattle the entire community. Showing
their support, the Regatta contributed
charity donations to the One Fund and
spent the summer collaborating with
the city on safety preparations. Accord-
ing to Bakey, “the nature of the device
used in the Marathon bombings forever
changed how security was managed.”
Every year the Regatta draws some
of the most famed rowers in the history
of the sport, heroes to the next genera-
tion of oarsman and oarswoman. But
sometimes the real heroes of the event
are the ones quietly working in the
OPPOSITE PAGE
Jack Bakey and Assistant Director Mason Cox
ready for work.
background, negotiating parking spaces,
proposing new safety initiatives, and
deescalating tense situations. Jack Bakey
does this all with a smile on his face and
sometimes a spatula in his hand. Back in
September of 2007, the now Assistant
I have had the privilege of work-
ing with Jack Bakey for just one of the
five decades he has supported the
Head Of The Charles Regatta and I
am honored to have had that experi-
ence. He can be found behind the grill
Shortly after his retirement,
Bakey joined the HOCR staff as
the MDC, now DCR, liaison.
Director Mason Cox showed up to the
HOCR Office for his first day of work. It
just so happened to fall on a morning
meeting with the DCR. Jack Bakey led
the meeting but was a little quieter than
normal sitting around the conference
table and discussing plans for cutting
back the brush along Memorial Drive.
Only later when the DCR staff left the
building, did Jack quietly ask for a ride to
the hospital. Now that the critical busi-
ness of the morning was over, the broken
arm he had acquired that morning in an
inopportune fall could be tended to.
at Race Ops meetings, wandering Lot
4 during trailer parking and keeping
a watchful eye out for the Regatta so
that our competitors, spectators, and
volunteers can enjoy the weekend. Rain
or shine. We can learn a lot from Jack’s
approach to problem solving but I rec-
ommend seeing a doctor immediately
with any broken bones!
So, please, stop and thank an offi-
cer while you’re checking out the vendor
tents. They help ensure we can all come
back every year. Tell them you give your
best to Bakey. .
“Les Sablons is where Julia Child would eat now.” - The Boston Globe
A dual-experience restaurant inside the historic Conductor’s Building, located in the heart of Harvard Square.
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Open during the regatta for dinner or Sunday brunch.
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
FIFTY-THIRD HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA
39