In the pop music world there’s Sting, Prince and Madonna. In Newton we have Anatol. Long before I met Anatol Zukerman I’d heard his name mentioned many times by many people … and it was always just “Anatol”.
Anatol Zukerman has never held any public office or never worked for the city, yet he’s been involved in more aspects of the life of Newton than nearly any other citizen. He’s probably best known to most residents for his voluminous guest columns and letters to the editor in the Newton Tab, on a broad range of topics. He’s an architect who’s volunteered his time and talent to work on designs for everything from the 9/11 Memorial, Needham St, Newton Centre, and Newton North High School.
When he’s not prodding public officials, asking hard questions at public meetings, making presentations to myriad groups, railing against NIMBY’s, writing letters to the editor, or stirring the pot on public policy issues in countless other ways – he has another whole public life in Newton as a man of culture.
Just this year he had a well received exhibition in Newton of his paintings and will soon have a show in Washington DC. His art matches the man – provocative, political, talented, and always with an edge.
He recently lectured on Russian post cold war history. He’s a poet. He’s a translator. He’s a provocateur. He’s a busy guy.
Anatol is building a new house in Plymouth MA and plans to move down there next month. He’s not planning on severing his ties with Newton, but still … once you move to a new town, the ties to the old inevitably start to dissolve. Newton’s loss with be Plymouth’s gain.
Despite the fact we often disagree, despite the fact that we both have an ability to get under each other’s skin, I’ll miss him and what he brings to the City of Newton. He’s a talented, maddening, smart, warm, frustrating, funny, hard working guy who has put his heart and soul into this city. I thank him for it all, wish him the best, and look forward to his first letter to the editor, in the Plymouth Daily News.
Anatol was the original crackpot….and I mean that in the most complementary way. I agree with Jerry, we often disagreed. But we often agreed too.
I know Anatol’s heart was always in the right place. He was always courageous, Never afraid to upset the apple cart.
A loss for Newton, I’m sure.
We are losing someone who has always cared for those with less power and clout in society and he always speaks and acts with passion and conviction. There is no winking or nodding with this guy and he’s been right far more often than wrong. This is Newton’s loss and I think everyone will agree with that even those who often thought him to be a political thorn in their sides.
It’s definitely our loss. Be good Anatol.
Aw….darn it!
Every town needs an Anatol.
Anatol,
This is stunning news, I am so sorry to hear you are leaving Newton. Thank you for your many ideas and your support over the years, it was always appreciated. Your art exhibit at the Newton Free Library this year was incredible, I am not surprised to hear you will be exhibiting your drawings in D.C. Hope you will stay in touch.
Thank you, dear friends, you make me blush. I hope some young hearts will pick up my worn out shoes of a crackpot, a gadfly and a whistleblower. The truth is born in the heat of argument, but I’m not sure the truth will set you free.
Dear Anatol, sometimes our arguments shed more heat than light on the truth, but I will sincerely miss your presence in Newton. You always brought a novel perspective to public discussions. And I know you will persevere in the struggle against NIMBYs (“Not-In-My-Back-Yard”), BANANAs (“Build-Absolutely-Nothing-Anywhere-Near-Anything”) and CAVE people (“Citizens-Against-Virtually-Everything”).
Peace.
Good luck Anatol! I’m sorry to see you go. Among all your other things, keep up your great liberal political art.
Dearest Ted Hess-Mahan,
The NIMBY, BANANA and CAVE people were the greatest reason of my departure from Newton. I can argue with city officials until I’m blue in the face, but I cannot overcome polular resistance to new construction.
Good luck to you in that struggle. Let me know if you want to build my New Tripple Decker – it’s still waiting for your support.
Anatol, as you know, our zoning limits dwellings to 2-1/2 stories and the chances getting Zoning and Planning to even consider allowing a triple decker by right are slim and none. But that’s another story (or another half-story as the case may be). I have given myself until the end of May to figure out whether I want to continue tilting at windmills here in the Garden City. Until then, До скорого! (I hope I got that right and didn’t just ask you where the restrooms are.)
Ted Hess-Mahan – Come on, that’s what windmills are for … and besides, that campaign poster’s ready to go.
Anatol – My friend, former BSC compatriot and former neighbor! Best of luck to you beyond the confines of Newton. It’s weird out here.
Ted Hess-Mahan for Alderman: Because there’s nothing good on primetime TV anyway.
Ted,
Actually, Multi-Residence 3 and 4 allow 3 floors, if I remember. I can’t believe you think of quitting! Just a few years ago you were the most popular aldermen in Newton. They even called you “socialist”!!! Are you moving to Vermont with Bernie Sanders?
Всего доброгo, до свиданья! Medvedev says hello, but he’s a capitalist.
Ed Prisby, you’re right – it’s weird out here. Reminds me of a medieval Italian city.
BTW, Greg Reibman,
Did you use Photoshop to distort my portrait?
@Anatol: As noted, Jerry posted this. However, after you created this spitting image of me why would I want to distort the way you look?
(BTW, that picture is hanging proudly in my home office)
A masterpiece!
I used an old photo I found from an earlier post … but I’d be happy to Photoshop it
Yes, Jerry, make me young and beautiful.
Best of luck to you Anatol! Very weird to imagine Newton without you. Please “visit” us like Ed P does. I will be very curious to find if there are fewer NIMBYs in Plymouth… I kind of doubt it.
Good luck Anatol! Newton will definitely be a different — and less interesting — city without you. I hope you are able to dedicate some of that passion to Plymouth.
I’ll be curious to know how long it takes to get Newton out of your blood. I suspect it will be awhile.
Reportedly, Plymouth is “even more conservative than Newton” (!). So, I won’t even try to change its urban fabric, just plant May Flowers in our back yard. You all are welcome to visit after we settle down. You should see the Pulte Home paradise of pre-fabricated prototypical structures covered with vinyl siding. Who knows – maybe some day you’ll be 55-and-over too.
Unlike Sun City in So. Carolina, Plymouth Pine Hills don’t have alligators in lagoons and man-made waterfalls, but it has that understated New England charm. Naturally, the speed limit here is lower too: 20 instead of 25 mph.
Huh? The Anatol Zukerman I know wouldn’t not do something because it’s hard! Who are you really and what have you done with our Anatol?
Hello Anatol,
After watching last night’s Board of Selectman’s meeting here in America’s Hometown, it’s quite obvious that “nothing has changed” since you left Newton. I’m not judging you because I don’t know you. I’m just wondering if you’d have as many supporters if you were leaving Plymouth as you obviously had when leaving Newton.
Hmm – From this comment, it sounds like Anatol may be stirring the pot down in his new home in Plymouth. I would expect no less 😉
Oh, Anatol, I just read the news! Newton will miss your passion and perspective – and for letting us know exactly what you think and believe. I’ll miss the warmth just beneath the surface and that great smile. Best of luck and keep in touch with your old home town.
Good luck, Anatol. There are no NIMBY’s in Plymouth – after all, they have the Pilgrim Nuke there.
Although I’ve disagreed with Anatol (vehemently) on some topics online, I actually like him as a person — a larger-than-life figure in our community. Anatol, it’ll be a shame to have you go.
@Anatol and others. We were seriously considering Pine Hills a few years back and we still may wind up there or at some similar kind of senior community on the East Coast if it ever gets too difficult to stay in this house. Pine Hills has so much more going for it than Newton in terms of quality housing for seniors that is at all affordable. We have stayed because we love our house, the things we do here, and because our friends are all in this area; but we’ve really seen nothing in terms of senior housing in Newton that is nearly as nice in the price range we can afford.
This is a serious challenge for Newton. Seniors are a great bargain for the City in terms of the very low level of services they require and because Newton is diminished every time someone with Anatol’s character and long time commitment to our community leaves for an easier lifestyle.