Member of the "Greatest Generation" shares artifacts with Cummings Center

Ninety-two-year-old Sam Pino of Beverly is the epitome of what journalist Tom Brokaw coined “the greatest generation”—American citizens who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modern America.

After serving in the military, Pino attended Vesper George School of Art in Boston on the GI Bill. As an artist, he had an understanding of machinery, which is how, in 1950, he landed a job at Beverly’s United Shoe Machinery Corporation. The company was forced to hire outside of the trades to keep up with the war effort. He worked for United Shoe, known locally as “The Shoe,” for more than 35 years.

Pino started out as a pattern draftsman and quickly made his own path, moving up to what would be classified today as “technical illustrator” and becoming a one-man in-house ad agency. He developed and produced by hand four-color slides of everything from machines to tanks to shoes to floor plans to be used in manuals and sales presentations.

Fast forward to present day.

Cummings Center now stands on the once-derelict former United Shoe Machinery Corporation site. The thriving office and technology park, which is in the process of adding 73 luxury residential condominiums, has become a defacto museum for artifacts and memorabilia of the Shoe in its heyday. Some of Pino’s personal portfolio and original slides are on display outside of the leasing office at 100 Cummings Center, thanks to his daughter, Lisa Harney.

Harney reached out to Cummings Properties vice president and general manager Steve Drohosky, asking if he would be interested in seeing, and possibly displaying, some of Pino’s work.

Not only did Drohosky and his colleagues put together a display of Pino’s work, they also gave Pino, Harney, and Pino’s sons, Marc and Sam Jr., a tour of Cummings Center and some of the extraordinary artifacts housed throughout the campus.

Harney’s closing comment in a letter to Drohosky says it best: “My dad is a very private and humble man, but I know he would be proud and honored if his portfolio was considered an important part of the Shoe’s history. It’s one of a kind—like Sam!”

Recently named one of North of Boston Business’ 25 Best Places to Work, Cummings Center offers first-class, fully built out space for a wide range of commercial uses, including executive offices, healthcare facilities, laboratories, retail storefronts, industrial space, and more.

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PHOTOS:

Former United Shoe artist Sam Pino and his daughter, Lisa Harney, touring Cummings Center

Original color slide of shoes made by Sam Pino

Original color slide of a process diagram made by Sam Pino