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BLONDERS, continued from page 6
Jeff hadn't been able to work the finish
line until two years ago, because of his work
schedule, but when he retired, he decided to
finally apply.
When Zach was in college, he followed
in his father's footsteps and began officiating
meets, instantly enjoying it.
"It's not a difficult time commitment
and it's fun," he said. "You get paid to be
surrounded by a sport you like being a part
of so it was good for me."
When he graduated college in 2017, he
continued officiating, adding college meets
to his roster, and then transitioned to the
Marathon.
To officiate the Marathon position, you
have to get your USA Track and Field
(USATF) official credential. Zach got his
USATF official credential and saw an opening
for a timer in the Marathon.
"I'd say without having that connection
that my dad had with the officiating organization,
it would have been more difficult to
apply," Zach said. "I knew all of the officials
from doing track, and obviously my dad
knew others, and then kind of having that
connection there was helpful for me to get in
to officiate."
Jeff and Zach said they both plan to reapply
to work the Marathon again next
07
year.
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Retired? Not quite:
Jeff Blonder gives
back to fellow vets
BY RACHEL BARBER
PHOTO BY SPENSER HASAK
Since retiring from his consulting job
last year, Naval veteran Jeffrey Blonder
said he is busier than ever.
Blonder served 15 months in Afghanistan
from 2008 to 2009. He retired
from the Navy Intelligence Reserve
Program in 2014. Upon his return to
Swampscott, Blonder became involved
in multiple North Shore veterans
organizations. He is the commander of
the E.F. Gilmore Disabled Veterans of
America in Swampscott and is certified
as a chapter services officer by the
Department of Massachusetts Disabled
American Veterans.
“I’ve been fortunate and I have a very
supportive family,” Blonder said. “My
17 COLUMBIA STREET, UNIT 7
SWAMPSCOTT
MATT@WOLFEBUILDERSLLC.COM
chapter has become really active. …I
feel blessed that I can help other veterans
that aren’t as lucky as I am.”
Blonder’s certification makes him one
of the most important links between
the North Shore disabled veterans’
community and the Disabled American
Veterans National Service. As a chapter
services officer, he provides information
to veterans and ensures they are receiving
relevant benefits. He also counsels
veterans filing financial claims with the
Disabled American Veterans National
Service.
Blonder said while his organizations
are consistently looking to raise money
to assist veterans, they are also planning
a veterans expo for next spring that will
advertise relevant resources. He said the
organizations aim to serve about 500
career, Vietnam War, and World War II
veterans who live in Swampscott.
He said he and other representatives
from Swampscott’s veteran services
organizations have started to meet
monthly with Town Administrator
Sean Fitzgerald to discuss what more
Swampscott can do to support its
veterans.
“We’re looking at making mental
health a really big push,” Blonder said.
“Veterans are really suffering.”
Blonder cited a 2013 United States
Department of Veteran Affairs study
analyzing veteran mental health from
1999 to 2010. It showed that, in that
time, roughly 22 veterans were dying
by suicide per day or once every 65
minutes.
Beyond assisting veterans, Blonder
is often volunteering elsewhere around
town. He said he has been a Town
Meeting member for over 30 years, sat
on Swampscott’s Planning Board for
about 20 years, and volunteers one day
each week at the Senior Center. There,
he is responsible for the center’s weekly
newsletter.
In his free time, Blonder also referees
high school and college sports including
track and field, soccer, volleyball,