Balfe to retire after 27 years of tending to city's parks, cemetery

Working for 27 years at the same job for the same employer is quite an accomplishment. For Tom Balfe, it is also been a labor of love.

Balfe will park the riding mower, hang up the leaf blower and stop tending to the city’s cemetery and parks today when he retires in favor of spending more time on the river doing his favorite hobby — fishing.

At 64 years of age, Balfe has spent many hours making sure the city’s parks and cemetery are pristine. It’s a matter of pride for him.

He proudly admits that being the groundskeeper at the cemetery is a task he has accomplished with great pride and reverence for those laid to rest there and their families. He has kept track of all the burials, having laid 785 people to rest during his career.

“It’s very stressful,” Balfe said. “I’ve buried a lot of friends. They are all my family. I talk to them and I say ‘happy birthday.’ I am going to miss the cemetery a lot.”

Balfe went to school in Sprague, and has been around Ritzville since 1960.

He also served his country as a United States Marine. He served two years, two months and two days with two tours of duty in Vietnam. He earned the Presidential Unit Citation during that time.

When he was discharged, Balfe set to work with the Milwaukee Railroad until it shut down in 1980. He joined the city of Ritzville in 1984.

Along the way, Balfe has logged a few milestones on March 17. He was discharged from the military on that date in 1969. He would go on to become engaged on March 17, 1971, and married on the same date in 1972.

Balfe, and his wife, Debi, have three children: Michael, Michelle and Tom, Jr. They also have two granddaughters.

Balfe considers the groundskeeper job to be a great opportunity.

“It’s the best job in town,” he said. “I have a great boss and he knows he doesn’t have to worry about the cemetery and the parks. I just love the look when I get done with the mowing. I really take pride in my work.”

Balfe said the city provided him a much-needed job 27 years ago and he has worked hard to thank them for the opportunity.

“I am very grateful I got this job to start with,” he said. “I can’t thank the city enough for putting me in that position.”

When retirement settles in, if you cannot find him, Balfe is likely on his boat down at Lyons Ferry or hiking the Palouse Canyon.

A party in his honor is at the Fraternal Order of Eagles on Friday, April 27 from 4 to 6 p.m.