It was a Wonderful Life - The Story of Mr. Dwinell
James Dwinell passed away this past week at the ripe old age of 98. He was the prototypical small town banker. He was always well dressed. He knew everyone's name. He looked you in the eye. He was on time for appointments and expected others to be on time too. He could tell with just a handshake who would be paying a mortgage back to the Winchester Savings Bank in full and who would be trouble.
As my first landlord he was fair and willing to give me a shot at starting a law practice when no one else in town would rent to a 24 year old looking to hang his shingle. I had one telephone at that time - I would bring it home at night as it was my home phone too. The simple table and single chair made me feel like Atticus Finch, Abraham Lincoln and Oliver Wendell Holmes all at once. Mr. Dwinell was NEVER "Jim" to anyone at the bank, always "Mr. Dwinell", but I was politely honored as "Attorney Gosselin" to him - a novelty for a newly minted lawyer.
Like so many other people in Winchester and Woburn that owed Mr. Dwinell for giving them chances at owning homes or starting businesses, I owe Mr. Dwinell for giving me my start - a start that led to nine happy years in that office on the third floor of the Winchester Savings Bank before moving on to bigger things.
Winchester will miss Mr. Dwinell's leadership and values, but those that he touched will pass on his special way of doing business.
