SUMMERDALE — After more than a quarter of a century, Summerdale Public Works Director John Resmondo has retired.

Dec. 31 marked the official close of Resmondo’s career with the town of Summerdale. So in his honor, the town threw a retirement party Monday afternoon at the Summerdale Community Center. Turning out to offer congratulations were more than 115 well-wishers.

“That was just overwhelming to me,” Resmondo said in an interview following the party. “Every time I turned around, somebody else was coming in.”

That’s not all. The married father of two grown children also received several gifts of appreciation, including a rocking chair from a former employee and shadow box from the Summerdale Volunteer Fire Department, over which Resmondo has served as fire chief for the last four years.

“He was also presented a certificate of recognition from Gov. Bentley in honor of his service to the town,” Resmondo’s wife Marilyn said.

The afternoon also included a buffet hosted by friends and family.

A Summerdale native, Resmondo began working with the Summerdale Public Works Department on a voluntary basis during his tenure on Summerdale Town Council. That led to the full-time position, during which time the married father of two grown children has been involved in both water-well projects and the addition of a water town and treatment plant.

The grandfather of two girls credits his preparation for working in the position to his early-days experience with Foley Tractor Co. and his certification as a diesel mechanic.

“Most of it was on-the-job training,” Resmondo recalled.

With free time now on his hands, Resmondo plans to spend even more time in the organization that he has been a part of for more than two decades.

“I’m probably going to be piddling around the fire department,” he joked, adding that he also plans to do some traveling in the near future.