Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn A Healing and Meditative Landscape | Page 25

People and Happenings
Elisier (Coco) Ortiz-Ortiz,
Grass/Grounds Maintenance Supervisor,
Started on 4/2/79
Elisier (Coco) Ortiz-Ortiz started at Mount Auburn Cemetery
in April 1979 on the Gardening Crew. Coco spent many years
preparing the grounds for Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and
hundreds of other special days that only our visitors recognized.
Coco knew them all. He practiced professionalism throughout
the entire Cemetery and trained many others along the way. He
always had a smile and a piece of gum or candy for everyone he
met!
Sammy Santiago, Interment Supervisor,
Started on 4/4/83
Sammy Santiago started at Mount Auburn Cemetery in April 1983 on
the Gardening Crew. As the interment crew supervisor, Sammy had the
perfect personality for his position. He was easy-going, empathic, and
always willing to go the extra mile in service to mourners at a funeral.
Even when he was juggling four or five funerals in a day, he was the
personification of calm, reflecting the goodness of all that is life.
Jim Hynes, Assistant Security Supervisor,
Started on 7/3/84
Jim Hynes started at Mount Auburn Cemetery in July 1984 on the Grounds
Crew. Jimmy’s friendly nature and great story-telling made him friends far
and wide. He took his job very seriously when it came to assisting grieving
families but he also enjoyed the aspects of his job that allowed him to learn
something new, such as participating in salamander studies or attending a
history lecture. Jimmy knows all of the hard-to-find places and people buried
at the Cemetery. You could call on him any time of the day or night with a
question or concern. He watched over the Cemetery when no one else was
around—or rather, when no one else was supposed to be around! Very little
scares or excites Jimmy. Every winter he could be found digging numerous
paths through several feet of snow so that visitors could walk out to a loved
one’s grave.
2018 Volume 1 | 23