Wellesley’s own Smitty Rogers marks 50 years as a Town employee

He is name is Dwight Rogers, but everyone calls him “Smitty.” He’s worked with the Town of Wellesley for 50 years, clocking in for the first time on Jan. 8, 1975, when he was 21 years old. And today the Water and Sewer Division general foreman was celebrated for his long tenure with a breakfast at the DPW attended by family, friends, and co-workers.

Dwight "Smitty" Rogers, Dave Cohen, Denise Montanari — Dwight “Smitty” Rogers, Director of Public Works, Dave Cohen, and Denise Montanari

Just don’t call it a retirement breakfast. No way. Smitty has worked hard ever day and has no interest in kicking back. Simply put, he loves his job. What he doesn’t like is the limelight, and didn’t want to be quoted for this story. That’s OK, there were plenty of people willing to weigh in on the consummate professional and workhorse extraordinaire.

Beth Hinchcliffe says those who know him call him “a townie in the absolutely best sense—he was born and grew up here, went to Wellesley High School, married fellow WHS-er Denise Montanari, and (at 71) they still live here in the same neighborhood where he grew up. He loves Wellesley.”

Dwight Smitty Rogers, Wellesley — Smitty Rogers behind his desk, which may also have logged 50 years of service.

Town executive director Meghan Jop, who has known Smitty since she started working for the town 23 years ago, counts him and his wife Denise as family and say he’s, “One of the nicest, kindest people you’ll ever meet.”

Dave Cohen, DPW director chimes in, “Congratulations to Smitty on this impressive milestone! It’s my pleasure to recognize Smitty for his 50 years of service, dedication and loyalty to the Town of Wellesley and for his ongoing commitment to ensuring successful operation of our water and sewer systems.”

And Denise, who always keeps it real, says 52 years of marriage with Smitty have “been a true adventure. He always thinks of everyone else but himself. Anyone who needs help, he’s always there.”

Smitty has also been everywhere the water is. A proclamation read by Jop during last night’s Select Board meeting outlined his accomplishments over the years. From his start in 1975, he rose through the ranks to become Wellesley’s water treatment plant operator in 1981. From there he became general foreman in 1988. In every capacity he’s worked in, Smitty has provided front-line supervision, oversight, maintenance, and on-call service for all town water treatment issues. (“Some say he’s never without a wrench in his hands,” Jop said.)

Dwight Smitty Rogers, and Denise Montanari, Wellesley — Smitty Rogers, and Denise Montanari. Denise was a long-time Town of Wellesley employee. Now retired, she works at London Harness in Wellesley Square.

During his tenure as “Clerk of the Works,” Smitty oversaw the construction of three water treatment plants from 1997-1998 at Morse’s Pond, Longfellow, and Wellesley Ave., and he currently oversees all Town wells including four new wells at the Morses Pond water treatment plant. He was a key contributor to connecting Wellesley to the MWRA in 1988, and was instrumental in upgrading the MWRA Hegarty booster station, increasing the capacity by over one million gallons per day.

Remember the Blizzard of 1978? Smitty does, and he’s the last remaining DPW employee who worked that historic storm. And all the other storms to follow, getting up and out on the roads at 2am to plow whenever needed. He’s even received an award from the Massachusetts Water Works Association as an outstanding water employee.

“He is very humble,” Hinchcliffe said, “but I think it’s really extraordinary, in these times of people moving from town to town and not creating roots, that he is so happy with ‘the privilege’ of working for his hometown and its people.”

“He’s very, very, proud, in a good way,” Denise said.

Humble. Hardworking. Proud. Still waters run deep, indeed, in the soul of Smitty Rogers.