Mark Brumley
Transportation Supervisor
(December, 2008)
Mark Brumley is Supervisor of Transportation at Hamlet. Mark produces a monthly schedule for all Hamlet drivers. He maintains all vehicles and schedules repairs for Hamlet's four cars and bus. Three drivers share transportation duties for resident appointments, trips to stores, field trips, and lunch and dinner outings.
Mark retired from TRW where he was a crib attendant in charge of maintenance supplies. After he retired, he worked for Lake County Board of MRDD. He continues to work there on his days off from Hamlet. He also occasionally drives a limousine bus and stretch limos for Renaissance, taking customers to weddings and proms. He has his CDL (Commercial Drivers License) and School Passenger Endorsements license. To maintain the license, he must take the test every six years. He explains that it is a very stringent test. One mistake, and you flunk. Our Mark, of course, passed the test the first time.
Mark enjoys the many events, concerts, and plays that he drives residents to. Last month they saw Hoagy Carmichael at Cuyahoga Community College. He likes traveling to the Croation Lodge, Cleveland Orchestra, trips to Amish country, Raintree for jazz and other restaurants. Mark loves taking residents on the weekly Sunday afternoon drive where he takes them to Fairport Harbor, Little Italy, and other scenic destinations. He likes to help residents with carrying groceries or other small tasks. He says he is always happy to help.
Mark grew up in Mentor on the Lake. His father was from Germany and was in the German navy during WWII as an officer on the Bismarck. When they sank the ship, the English transferred his dad to Annapolis where he went to work for the American Navy. Mark's father forced Mark and his brothers to enlist in the army. Mark served our country in the highlands of Viet Nam. "Dad said, you are an American. You will fight for America!" Mark has five daughters and one son. They live in Cincinnati, Willoughby, Willowick, and Mentor.
The really interesting thing about Mark is that he played guitar in a garage band in high school that had a Number #1 hit song nationally, "It's Cold Outside." You may recall hearing it, "And now it's cold outside, and the rain is pouring down"."They performed on local TV shows "Up Beat", and "Hullabaloo" with Don Webster. Imagine having at hit song at age 16! The group sold the rights to "It's Cold Outside" in the 80's for a few thousand a piece. Eric Carmen joined the band when Mark left for Viet Nam. The group evolved into "The Raspberries" and continues to play today nationally.
Mark's band played with famous bands including "The Who". They all quit school to travel to California to play on the concert circuit. It was an opportunity they couldn't pass up. They later received their GEDs. While playing in California in the late 60s, he married a young Go Go dancer that he met at one of his concerts. He brought her back to Ohio and they remained married for 17 years. Because he was serving in Viet Nam, he didn't see their first child until he came home three months after she was born.
Mark says, "I enjoy working. It keeps me going. When I retired, I didn't do anything for two years and I wasn't happy. I love working at Hamlet, I really do. I love talking with residents and love the people I work with. I learn so much from the residents. We joke around on the bus a lot and really have a good time. I have a good laugh every day here!"
