Greenwich Postal Worker Surprised With Retirement Send-Off

GREENWICH, CT — After 37 years as a postal worker in Greenwich, Cesar Carde is saying goodbye.

Carde, 64, officially retired on Wednesday from his job at the U.S. Postal branch on Amogerone Crossway, where he worked for the last 13 years. Throughout his career, Carde has worked at various branches around town.

But Carde didn't just head home after his workday. He was surprised by friends and family in Greenwich Common, who gathered to wish him well on the next chapter in his life.

Several customers who have gotten to know Carde came to thank him for his years of service. In the weeks leading up to the surprise, Greenwich resident Marie Diatta started a GoFundMe to raise money for Carde to use during his retirement travels. Carde is going on vacation to Puerto Rico with his wife, Rosa, and his brother Wilmer and his wife, Emma, in July.

Next year, Carde said he plans to go on a multiple country trip to Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.

On Wednesday, Diatta presented Carde with a card and $1,445.

"I wasn't expecting this. It makes me feel good," Carde said afterwards, adding that he had mixed emotions about leaving his job and the residents he has become friends with. "Some people go through life sometimes thinking that there's no reward [for the work they do]. It feels good when people acknowledge each other for something positive, and I think as a society as a whole we have to be more appreciative of the little things that people do for others."

Diatta said she'd sometimes come to the post office unprepared, missing an address on her boxes or envelopes, but Carde was always there with a smile to lend a helping hand.

"You could feel how caring he is. It's not something rehearsed. You could always leave the post office with a smile because of Cesar," she said.

Greenwich resident Abi Babcock presented Carde with a book containing snippets of articles written about him, and pages where people could write their well wishes.

"I raised my girls here in Greenwich but I left for 20 years. I've only been back for three years, and it feels like I've known him forever," Babcock said. "He has time for everyone. He has a solution for any problem you have, and he handles it with joy and gaiety."

Another Greenwich resident, Nancilee Holland, recalls a time when Carde helped her when she needed it the most.

"His main line is, 'I'm too blessed to be stressed,'" Holland said. "That taught me a lot, especially during a time in my life when I was dealing with personal problems."

Carde said the time is just right to retire; he made the decision about two months ago. His favorite part of the job was dealing with the public, even the difficult customers.

"Give me the worst customer, and after a few times, I got you in the palm of my hand," Carde said. One of his favorite lines he lives by is, "I cannot control the wind, but I can adjust my sails." When a customer came in who was unpleasant, Carde said he wouldn't allow them to ruin his day. Instead, he'd try to connect with them on a personal level to brighten their day.

"I believe I was brought to this earth to serve. When you do it and you do it with kindness, love and consistency, this is what you reap," Carde said, as he looked around at his family and friends.