Beloved Market Basket associate with Down syndrome retires after 27 years
TEWKSBURY – Philip Donahue, a staple of Market Basket stores in Lowell and Tewksbury, is calling it a career after nearly three decades.
Donahue, an employee with Down Syndrome, is retiring after working as an associate for 27 years.
Thank you Philip for serving our customers in the Lowell and Tewksbury communities for 27 years! You are a fine example for us all! We wish you a very happy retirement.
Posted by Market Basket on Tuesday, June 21, 2022
"You are a fine example for us all! We wish you a very happy retirement," Market Basket posted.
Donahue is a Your Next Star representative of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. The program works to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and their families.
He told WBZ-TV he will always remember the friendly customers.
"It was from here to there, 50,000 people lined up. Everybody "Oh Philip! How are ya? What are you doing?" Donahue said when asked if people liked coming to his line to see him.
Donahue's family said one of their proudest moments was when a cashier told them once he had quietly opened his own wallet and paid the difference for a shopper who couldn't afford their groceries.
Donahue is one of 11 siblings. He is looking forward to spending his retirement cleaning and organizing his office and catching up on his shows.