06/10/2025

Retiree Recognition

We express our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated public health professionals retiring this year. Your years of service and commitment to community wellbeing have left an indelible mark and will be deeply missed.

• Amy von Hone, a Wheaton College graduate, began her public health career in 1987 as a water quality analyst on Cape Cod. After briefly working as a wetlands consultant, she returned to public health in 1990, spending 30 years with the Yarmouth Health Department as a health inspector and assistant health director. Mentored by Health Director Bruce Murphy, Amy gained broad experience across food service, septic inspections, housing, communicable diseases, and more. An active member of multiple public health organizations, she co-founded the Cape Cod Rabies Task Force and received several awards, including the Cape Cod Magazine “Unsung Hero” and the MMA Kenneth E. Pickard Memorial Innovation Award. Amy concluded her career as Brewster’s Health Director from 2019 to 2025, managing public health challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Joanne Belanger -Joanne spent the majority of her career in Andover, about 32 years. She started on the environmental side and advanced to assistant director, and she ran the clinical side of the department.  She then got the opportunity to be the Director in Lowell. She spent the majority of the pandemic there, which was a great learning experience. From Lowell she transitioned to the Director in Lexington, retiring from that position this year. She is a long-time MHOA supporter and member of the Board of Directors, and has served as MHOA’s Parliamentarian for many years. Joanne also received the 2024 John D. Crowley Award.
• Tracy Mayo - After an outstanding 30-year career in public health, Tracy Mayo, Duxbury’s Health Agent, will be retiring on July 7th. Tracy has served the Town of Duxbury with dedication and distinction for the past 19 years, leaving a lasting impact on the community she has helped protect and support. Tracy began her public health journey after graduating from Illinois State University in 1993, starting her career in her home state at the Kane County Health Department, and later at the Lake County Health Department. In 2005, she relocated to Massachusetts, briefly serving the Town of Brookline before accepting the position of Health Agent in Duxbury, where she would spend the remainder of her career. Throughout her tenure, Tracy has played a pivotal role in public health efforts, from implementing key health regulations with the Board of Health, to leading the town through significant public health crises, including H1N1 and COVID-19. Her leadership as the Duxbury Bay Area Regional Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator has been especially notable. Tracy has also been a proud member of MHOA for 19 years, exemplifying commitment to professional growth and collaboration.
• Patty Crafts - Patty Crafts began her public health work with the Healthy Communities Tobacco Awareness Program in March of 1994, assuming the position of Program Director in September of 1995. In May of 1998, she was hired by the Town of Andover as a Health Agent, where she handled all required environmental health work, and lead the food inspection program. She eventually took on all things housing, handling code enforcement, lead paint issues, and asbestos review. She retires in July 2025 with 31 years of service to Andover and its neighbors; she will be missed by her office mates and the community members that she worked closely with.
• Dave Mason - Dave Mason retired as Director of Health in Sandwich in March after 33 years on the job. Dave will continue working for the town part time to assist his replacement with the ongoing wastewater management plan. Mr. Mason has been a key figure in leading the initiative to clean the Upper Cape’s groundwater over the past decade.
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