AKAM honors retiree.

Every holiday season the board of directors, residents and staff of 450 West End Avenue, an upper west side cooperative managed by AKAM Associates, Inc., nearly 100 people in all, celebrate in the building lobby. Decorated for weeks prior to Christmas, the lobby is resplendent with Christmas tree and wreaths, candy canes, holly and a menorah. Refreshments supplied by management and other assorted goodies donated by residents, are served. In fact, over the years it's developed into a complete dinner.

This past year, Christmas 2002, was a joint celebration. Not only were the residents and staff celebrating the holidays, they were toasting the retirement of James Watson, the building's handyman.

For 25 years Watson's broad smile and helpful manner were a comfort to the residents of 450 West End Avenue. Rarely missing a scheduled day's work, Watson would walk the well kept halls of the building with his trusty toolbox, fully equipped with assorted paraphernalia, everything necessary to maintain and repair the slightest infraction to the common areas or individual apartments. "It just won't be the same around here," said Linda Censor, president of the board at 450 West End Avenue. "James has been a reassuring fixture. He's kept the building and our homes in perfect shape. But besides that, he's been like a member of our family."

Joining Watson at the festivities were his wife and three of his four grown children. Constantly wiping away emotional tears, Watson told his children, "You guys graduated college. This is my graduation." Among sentimental gifts and a monetary bonus from the board, the residents gave Watson a new toolbox stuffed with cash donations. "It's heartwarming and extremely gratifying to see an outpouring of affection like this," said Jay Fingerman, director of management for AKAM Associates. "It just goes to show you, if a job is done with diligence and dedication, people appreciate the effort."

To commemorate the occasion, Wayne Alpern, a long-time cooperator in the building and a professional composer wrote a tribute to Watson. Sung to the tune of "The Twelve Nights of Christmas," everyone joined in unison to sing "The Twelve Weeks of Four-Fifty." At the bottom of the song sheet the words, "Mr. Watson, come here! I need you!" were written. These were Alexander Graham Bell's first words spoken over the telephone in 1876 and, according to the tenants at 450, "Boy, was he right."