Colorful sendoff for man who did nearly every job
BY MARY ANNE ROSS
Correspondent

ERIC SUCAR staff Andy Makowski, decked out for his last day of work before retirement April 30, enjoys one last moment on the back of a garbage truck.

SPOTSWOOD - After more than 35 years with the borough's public works department, Andy Makowski decided to go out in style.

For his last day before retirement last week, Makowski dyed his hair red, white and blue, wore a formal tuxedo, and posed for pictures on the back of one of the town's sanitation trucks. It was a bittersweet farewell, with no shortage of laughs, which co-workers say was only fitting for their longtime friend and colleague.

Makowski grew up in Spotswood and started working for public works in 1971. He was one of the first people to work for the borough sanitation department. After 10 years, he went to the roads department, then the water department and then back to the roads department.

"He's done just about every job," said acting Public Works Superintendent John Mayer, who has worked with Makowski for 34 years.

"We started out around the same time," Mayer said. "I think I spent more time with Andy than I did my own family. What's great about Andy is, not only can he do everything, but he has a great sense of humor. It was always fun working with him, but he always got the job done."

Borough officials thanked Makowski for the work he's done over his lengthy tenure.

"Most people don't see or appreciate the work these guys do," Mayor Barry Zagnit said. "They're out there in the bitter cold and the summer heat. They're really the ones that keep the town running. They take care of the roads, the garbage, everything."

Zagnit called Makowski "a great employee."

"We were lucky to have him with us all these years," he said.

Makowski has seen a lot of changes since he first started working for the town.

"It's only two square miles, but it's really built up over the years," he said. The town always kept Makowski's department busy.

"There's only eight guys on the crew, so there was always a lot to do. We were out there shoveling snow, working in the parks or helping out with flooding," he noted.

Makowski had been thinking about his last day of work for a while.

"It really just came to me to wear the tuxedo. I wanted to do something different. I'm half bald, so when I decided to dye my hair for the last day, I knew I would have to let it grow out for a while," he said.

The retiree said he'll miss his fellow borough employees.

"They are a really good group," he said.

The feeling is mutual. His co-workers celebrated his service with a party and a cake on his last day, April 30.

"You can't replace a guy like him," Mayer said.

Though he has no definite plans, Makowski just felt it was the right time to retire.

"After all these years, I can wake up and know I don't have to do anything. I can just relax and do nothing if I want. I'm really going to enjoy that."