Brighton Marine celebrated one of its own on February 27. Derrick Hassell, Director of Maintenance at Brighton Marine, was recognized at the Black Excellence Awards in Boston by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.
For nearly five decades, Derrick has quietly and faithfully cared for our veterans and our campus — the homes, the hallways, and the spaces where healing happens and where veterans and military-connected families rebuild their lives. Long before headlines or ceremonies, Derrick was simply doing the work.
He began here as a teenager. He built a career here. And he has helped build Brighton Marine into what it is today.
When Brighton Marine renamed one of their Veterans living communities in his honor, it was because his legacy is literally part of the foundation of this place. This recognition affirms what we have known for years: Derrick represents excellence not only in his craft, but in his character.
“We are so proud of Derrick Hassell and can’t thank Kevin G. Honan enough for sharing how wonderful he is with the rest of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Kelly McGrath, Executive Director of Brighton Main Streets. “Derrick has been helping our veterans and community for decades at Brighton Marine, and we could not be more grateful and proud.”