Select Board Chair Erin Noonan sent this letter to the Current on Dec. 18.
To my town,
It is with a heavy heart that I share some difficult news regarding my personal life and recent absence from Select Board duties. About a month ago, my husband and I received the stunning news that our daughter Caroline has been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She has started an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy treatment that we expect to take place over the next six months. Our family is confident in the world-class medical team that is caring for her. Her doctors and nurses in the Pediatric Oncology Department of MGH have been phenomenal. She is positive, strong and has managed to keep her sense of humor through all of this. Caroline is a fighter, and we know she will get through this, but she does have a long road ahead of her.
For the time being, I have shifted my primary focus to be on her medical treatment and taken a leave from both my job and typical involvement in town government. I am so grateful for the way that the Select Board has come together to enable me to do this. I have every confidence in my colleagues on the board to continue to successfully conduct the business of the town and work together to address the short and long-term planning needs. I care immensely about our town and my responsibilities as Select Board chair, but for the moment I am taking things day by day and week by week. I hope to be able to re-engage in the New Year.
On behalf of my family, I want to share our sincere gratitude for all the love and support shown to us by our friends, neighbors and community. We love Marblehead for all its beauty, history and coastline, but it is the people here that are the heart of this town.
Marblehead is at an important juncture in history. We have challenging issues to navigate, but also, we have genuinely promising opportunities ahead of us. My wish for the New Year is that, as a town, we see the thoughtful and unifying spirit of community and solidarity that my family has enjoyed this past month throughout 2024. May residents and elected officials work collaboratively, with fresh resolve to bring diverse ideas together to achieve the best for Marblehead.
Erin Noonan
Beverly Avenue
