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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Since he found out he had been selected as the Friends of St. Patrick’s Person of the Year, Peter Betro Jr. has kept his calendar cleared for March 16 – the day of the annual luncheon to celebrate both St. Patrick’s Day and the Person of the Year.
Betro was chosen as the recipient for his dedication serving the community at Betro Pharmacy, the store his father opened in 1952. After his father passed away from cancer in 1982, Betro took over the business and continued to offer patrons quality service. Last year, Betro decided to retire and close the store, ending its 65 years in the heart of Walpole.
The Friends of St. Patrick’s President, Donnell Murphy, said that Betro was on their radar for a long time.
Founded in 1987 by Jake Murphy and a small group of locals, the Friends of St. Patrick aimed to give back to the community and celebrate the people that make Walpole so special.
Through ticket and raffle sales from the annual luncheon, the Friends have raised over $400 thousand since its inception to donate to various charities and organizations in and around Walpole. This year, Betro chose the Walpole Council on Aging and Walpole Smiling Eyes as the charities he would like to support with the Friends of St. Patrick.
“I just wanted to thank especially Donnell’s dad, who I’d known through my father; he and Donnell’s dad grew up together,” said Betro.
“These are wonderful people who always gave back to the community. And what Mr. [Jake] Murphy started 32 years ago… I mean, what can I say? For all the good deeds and for all the charities that have benefitted from function… You know, my father and Jake are up there smiling.”
The celebration began at the Raven’s Nest, where Betro, the Friends, and members of the community enjoyed breakfast together before participating in the parade through Walpole center.
Throughout the day, trolleys transported those participating in the celebration to Ambrosia in Foxboro, where the luncheon and a performance by the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums took place, and to other local restaurants.
It was a day Betro thoroughly enjoyed with the Friends, his family, and the community he has worked with so closely throughout his life in Walpole - not to mention a celebration that he could be sure would benefit the organizations in town about which he feels so passionately.
