Page 55 - Card Photo Flipbook-December 2022

The 1960s were a time of civil unrest in the US so it was with trepidation that the Card family
arrived in Boston on Monday, July 1st, 1968. Trepidation turned to “disaster” as the basement 53
apartment that had been rented was flooded when they arrived. The caretaker told them they
had an available second floor apartment – but of course the rent would be much higher! Thus,
the family ended up in Apartment #6, 8 Bryon Road, Chestnut Hill. Bob began his
hematology Fellowship at the Tufts-New England Medical Center (NEMC) in downtown
Boston.
It turned out the Chestnut Hill/Boston border was between the road entrance and the
apartment building. Thus the apartment was in Boston and school would have been many
miles away in the Boston’s West Roxbury district and didn’t have kindergarten. Harry Mielke
at NEMC suggested Needham. A two story home for rent was found at 184 Maple Street and
the family moved there over the 1968 Christmas holidays. This made life much more
pleasant. Sharon entered kindergarten at Stephen Palmer School (now a seniors’ home) and
the next year grade 1 at High Rock School (still there). Shopping was only a block away and
included the first McDonald’s the family had ever seen. Bob could walk to the Needham
Junction train station and commute to NEMC.
The rest of the Boston years became very enjoyable, with very limited “on call” in person so
family was able to enjoy the area. Many long term friendships developed. This included the
Wormleys (Dave, Shirley, Linda, Janet) and the Dicks (Doug, Eltress, Andy, Nancy) who
visited us later in Hamilton. Peter (at NEMC) and Cathy Levine had the Card family stay in
their house in Alexandria, Virginia for a 1970s holiday to DC. Peter visited Saskatoon in 1985.
He brought his teenage son and as a treat for the latter they went fishing at La Ronge.