4.2 min readBy Published On: January 28th, 2013Categories: Features12 Comments on Senator Jack Hart

March 2012

Serving up a side of humor at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast

Editor’s Note:

Senator Jack Hart has proudly served the people of South Boston and has served them well.  As Senator Hart leaves the State House to pursue a career in law in the private sector we wish him well.  Thank you for your years of dedication and service to the people of South Boston.  We greatly appreciate it!  Best of luck!

Jack Hart has been serving the people of the First Suffolk District in Massachusetts Senate for the past ten years – a job he refers to as an “incredible privilege”.  A son of South Boston, Jack was born second oldest into a great Southie family – the legendary Hart clan composed of John Hart Sr, Ellie (Olson) Hart, Teresa, Maureen, Susan,  and Ellen.  He grew up on East Fifth Street near the corner of G now he has his own family and lives a stones throw away on G Street near the corner of East Fifth.  Hey, if it ain’t broken don’t fix it, right? 

On Sunday, March 18 at 10am sharp, Senator Hart will take center stage as host for the legendary Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast for the 11th time.   Along with telling jokes and singing songs,  his role of MC loosely translates into wrangling dozens of local politicians into doing their best impressions of comedians.  He effortlessly keeps the program moving all while making sure his 800 plus audience filling a large ballroom at the Convention Center is entertained not to mention the thousands more watching from home. 

Although not technically part of his job description, the honor of hosting the breakfast is an unwritten responsibility of the senator from South Boston.   This event began as more of a political roast and made legendary by former senator Billy Bulger.  “By far one of the the wittiest politician is Bill Bulger. His breakfasts were legendary and set a standard for humor and pure entertainment that may never be equaled.”  Don’t see yourself short Jack.  You are pretty damn funny yourself. 

Favorite joke to tell:
Here in South Boston we celebrate St, Patrick’s Day for three reasons. First, to celebrate the great history of the Irish. Second, to celebrate the important history of Evacuation Day.  And lastly and most importantly, it forces us to take our Christmas decorations down. Otherwise we’d keep them up all year round. (Ba-dum-tish!)

Just the facts:

  • Married to: Michelle (Goldman)
  • Father to: Kathleen 15, Maggie 13, Emily 11, and Marykate 8
  • Attended: Gate of Heaven, BC High, Worcester Academy, Tufts University, Harvard’s Kennedy School, and New England School of Law
  • Athlete: played baseball, football, basketball, and hockey
  • Favorite spot in Southie: Our beaches and Castle Island.  They are an “oasis in the city” for all South Bostonians and all who come and enjoy.  M Street beach is like Miami’s South Beach in the summertime and it is great to see people young and old back using our beaches again.

A few things you might not know about Senator Hart

  • He plays the banjo.  A talent and instrument that he inherited from his father (who was always the life of the party).
  • He was choir boy.  As a fifth grader, I briefly attended St. Paul’s Choir School in Cambridge. So, I can carry a tune (although some may not agree)
  • He tended bar.  He was the man behind the stick at L Street Tavern for about 10 years and for a short stint at the Bayside Club (now the Seapoint Restaurant).
  • He was a paper boy.  If you lived in the Thomas Park area of Southie in the 1970’s, chances are your paper was delivered by Jack.

Although Jack is a well respected man and has stature in South Boston, underneath it all he is a regular Southie guy, a hard worker, a family man and extremely humble.  Refreshingly, he treats his career as a politician as an honor and privilege and doesn’t take his position for granted.  He is extremely dedicated to the people of South Boston.  “One of the best  parts of living in South Boston is the people and the families who contribute so much to the fabric of our neighborhood and make our community such a wonderful place to live in.”  In that respect, Jack Hart and his love of his town is deeply woven into the fiber of South Boston making the community much stronger.

If you wrote an autobiography what would the title be?
It would be entitled It’s A Wonderful Life.  I am the luckiest man alive blessed with a beautiful wife and four children. My four sisters and I were the beneficiaries of the two greatest parents in the world.  Lastly, I get to wake up everyday and do a job I love.

 

The St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast air live on NECN at 10am.

Photography by Deborah McCarthy

 

12 Comments

  1. Anonymous March 1, 2012 at 4:15 pm

    Love Jack Hart!  Great article on a great guy!  Thanks!

  2. Jakester March 2, 2012 at 2:46 am

    Senator John ‘Jack’ Hart, proud to call him my senator.  One of the last good Democrats….

  3. Anonymous March 2, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    I like having the Hart family as neighbors. Jack does great things for the neighborhood through his work inspires families to stay in Southie.

    Any chance they could put the Christmas decorations away?

  4. BILLY O'NEILL JR. March 2, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    TRAVELED ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND WITH JOHN HART WATCHING JACK HART  PLAY BASEBALL & FOOTBALL FOR TUFTS. HE WAS A VERY GIFTED ATHLETE., BUT A BETTER PERSON.

    I WAS VERY FORTNATE TO BE GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE HART FAMILY.

    BILLY O’NEILL JR.

     

     

  5. Linda & Joe Leeman March 6, 2012 at 1:57 am
    The working mans friend, we are so lucky to have Jack as our voice in the Senate, Jack is a true South Bostonian, and truly cares about The Town and it’s people. Keep up the good work Senator Hart.
  6. Carter Family March 8, 2012 at 10:58 am

    We just wanted to say that we grew up with Seery nator Hart from a boy into a Great Senator. He really does care about his town and family and friends. He forget to mention that he used to lay Little League Baseball and was one of the boys who played Hal Ball with the boys on East Fifth Street and was pretty good at it. He is a great neighbor and is very proud of his Town. Good Luck Jack and keep up the good work.

  7. Carter Family March 8, 2012 at 11:00 am

    We just wanted to say that we grew up with Senator Hart from a boy into a Great Senator. He really does care about his town and family and friends. He forget to mention that he used to play Little League Baseball and was one of the boys who played Hafl Ball with the boys on East Fifth Street and was pretty good at it. He is a great neighbor and is very proud of his Town. Good Luck Jack and keep up the good work.

  8. Carter Family March 8, 2012 at 11:20 am

    We grew up with Jack from a boy into a man. He is very much a great Senator and cares about his job.

    He forget to mention that he played Little Baseball and was a champ at Half Ball with the boys on East Fith Street,G and Story Street. He was a good player then and is still is. He does every thing possibel to care for the people from South Boston, He does a great job at the Saint Patrick’s Breadfast. Jack last name is Hart as we all know but he truly has a HEART…..

  9. Milly October 24, 2012 at 3:19 pm
    He helped me and my girl out of a battered women’s shelter.
    .she was age 4 and autistic.
    The crew that worked at the shelter were extremely ignorant to our needs.
    We were stuck there for four months of complete horror.
    The woman were,prostitutes,drug addicts,thief’s,liars..
    They would not accommodate my Childs needs.
    Swearings fighting yelling,no sleep.
    My child that’s autistic,had issues with sleep,self injury,and communication.
    We could not sleep another night in this room the size of a walk in closet

    So after putting down my pride
    I decided to give Jack Harts office.
    I received a call back after my story to his secretary.
    Stating this is a real emergency miss.
    So Senator Hart.
    Wants you out of that situation immediately.
    I went from 800 on the wait list for emergency placement,to 1 .:)
    he understood me,and this crisis.
    So I was out the next day,and had a place in Quincy ma.

    otherwise we would off been in this territory,probably for another year.
    God Bless you Mr Hart.

    My daughter has grown now as a happy southie girl.
    Safe secure,and a child that has a heart, as Big as yours.
    Thank you.
    from an old neighbor of yours from 4th street.

  10. grace rose January 29, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    What an amazing man, a wonderful son, father, brother, uncle, and friend to so many. Such a genuine guy, a real gentleman. Southie was very lucky to have him representing us for so many years. I will never ever forget back in 2009 when my younger brother died suddenly. We were consumed with grief and shock!. What a surprise when we opened the door  to find Jack and his sister Susan standing there with the biggest xmas wreath ever seen. His presence and words of condolenses to my mom and our family were  overwhelming and so appreciated. thats the kind of guy he is..thoughtful, kind and true. We wish you the very best Jackie..May God hold you  and yours in the palm of his hand…God bless!

  11. Anonymous January 29, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    Sunday is March 17th…

  12. Maureen Dahill January 31, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    Yes, we know that this year Sunday is March 17th.  This article you read was published last year – see date above.  Jack Hart was our Character of the month for March 2012. 

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