'Couldn't shirk his responsibility': Somerville Local Hero

SOMERVILLE, MA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. But rarely do they get the spotlight they deserve. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've begun an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. Together with Ring, we're working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Bill Salom, who nominated his neighbor and former colleague, Robert Scannell. Scannell has been a respiratory therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital for nearly 40 years. He works directly with coronavirus patients on ventilators, one of the "most important jobs in the world at this point in time."

"He was considering retiring but realized he had a special skill and that he couldn't shirk his responsibility to our society," Salom writes.

Thank you for all you do, Robert!

>> Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here. <<

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