Beloved 'Postman Jeff' retiring after 47 years of service in Lafayette
Beloved mailman "Postman Jeff" retires after 47 years of service
Lafayette postman Jeff Gostomski made his final mail deliveries Tuesday, and was greeted by longtime residents who showed gratitude by posting signs on each mailbox in his honor. "Jeff goes beyond being just a mailman," said Julie Dudum Del Santo, one of the residents who organized the mailbox message effort. There was another surprise, when he went to the local elementary school. Gostomski also shared some advice for younger people about how to succeed in whatever job you choose.
LAFAYETTE, Calif. - U.S. mail carrier Jeff Gostomski, or "Postman Jeff" as he's known affectionately to residents along his route, rolled up to each house Tuesday morning as he does every day, making sure mail gets delivered on time.
On this day, though, something was different.
"You know I'm not going to get any work done today. They'll probably end up firing me for that," Jeff Gostomski said, chuckling as he put the mail into a mailbox near Happy Valley Road in Lafayette.
After 47 years as a mail carrier, Gostomski has decided to retire. On his final day, the neighbors who have known Gostomski for years or, in some cases, their lifetimes, put signs out in their mailboxes showing their gratitude for his nearly half decade of service.
"I started in August of 1977," Gostomski said.
Gostomski says it was almost by accident that he became a mail carrier.
It all started with a mention from his mother-in-law.
"I had just come out of the military, and I was looking for a job, and she said, 'Hey, why don't you try the post office?' And I went and took the test," Gostomski said.
Gostomski passed the test, and so the Navy Vietnam veteran started driving one of the red, white, and blue mail trucks.
On his final day, he reminisced about things that were different back in the 1970's when he started, such as the old mail trucks.
"The thing about them that was funny, was we didn't have padding on the floorboard, and these things got really hot, and you could put your lunch on the floorboard and it'd be heated by the time you took your lunch," Gostomski said.
Neighbors say he's been there rain or shine, delivering more than just the mail.
"Jeff has so much positivity," said Julie Del Santo, a resident along his mail route. "Every day that you see him, he just starts your day and sets the tone for a good day."
"He stops. Every time I'm out there he'll say hello," Steve Klei said. "He can remember your name."
"He's always got a smile on his face, and we decided that we should put a smile on his face for his last day of work," Jessica Dixit, a Lafayette resident said, standing next to a cardboard mail truck she and her children made to put on top of their mailbox with a thank-you note for Gostomski.
Residents say he has always brought the mail with smiles and good humor.
"He even delivered me my college acceptance letters because, back then, they came in the mail. So he would hand it to me and it looks like it's going to be a great day today," Shannon Tierney of Lafayette said.
Through good times and sad times, Gostomski says he has learned a great deal from the people he has met during the decades of deliveries.
And yes, he has been chased by dogs on rare occasions.
"Right when I started, I got chased. Me and a Doberman, we were equal parts away from the vehicle. And luckily, I got to the vehicle before he did," Gostomski chuckled. "I always tell people, these dogs, they live better than I do. They're not going to waste their lifestyle on a lousy mailman. So everything is good."
Midway through his shift, he said he had to go.
The Happy Valley Elementary School asked him to stop in to see a kindergarten class.
"He comes and talks with our TK and kindergartners every year about the postal service. He's a local celebrity for us and goes above and beyond," Happy Valley Elementary School Principal Shayna Peeff said.
When he drove up, however, the entire school was waiting, waving flags, and a chorus of kids were chanting "Postman Jeff, Postman Jeff."
On the wall, a giant sign from the children was full of love letters in the form of forever stamps.
It was enough to almost bring the veteran postman to tears.
"I am. I'm really touched. I've been telling her I'm trying not to cry at times," Gostomski said.
He says the job, like life, is what you make of it.
"It can get boring at times, but you have to make it your own. You start to know people, and you converse with them and it makes the day go a lot better and quicker," Gostomski said.
The National Association of Letter Carriers local chapter held a ceremony Tuesday, and presented Gostomski with a certificate recognizing his long service.
Jana Katsuyama is a reporter for KTVU. Email Jana at jana.katsuyama@fox.com. Call her at 510-326-5529. Or follow her on Twitter @JanaKTVU and read her other reports on her bio page.