Longtime Westfield News and Pennysaver carrier retires. (PHOTO SUBMITTED)
WESTFIELD – Reminder Publishing West Circulation Manager Nate Halla recently announced the retirement of longtime carrier Vladimir Garbuz.
Halla wrote that Garbuz served as a carrier for The Westfield News and the Pennysaver for 22 years, beginning in 1998, and never took a day off until 2016.
“Unable to speak a lick of English, he always found a way to communicate with his customers. He went above and beyond on a daily basis,” Halla said.
Garbuz’ sense of community was illustrated in a compliment received in 2017 from an elderly Westfield News customer, who said she was unable to clear snow from her driveway or take her trash cans out. Every storm, Garbuz would shovel when he dropped off the paper, and every week, he would take her trash cans to the curb.
“This is just one of many compliments I received about him. I never had to worry about him doing his job. He was quick and efficient! If he ever missed a customer by accident, he would head right out to bring them a paper,” Halla said.
Halla said Garbuz also loved to share gifts from his homeland during office gatherings over the holidays.
“I will miss him dearly. Luckily, being a neighbor of my parents, I may still see him around the neighborhood,” Halla said.
