By Steffen Klenk
Monte Leopardi knows a thing or two about dedication.
The proud U.S. Army veteran spent much of the last 67 years operating a forklift for Peter Lumber Company in Pleasantville, before retiring last year.
Leopardi, 89, attended Saint Peter’s in Pleasantville. Upon arriving home from Army service, he worked odd jobs, starting at Bailey’s Greenhouse in Atlantic City before working at a body shop for a short time.
It was in 1954 when Leopardi filled out an application for the Pleasantville-based Peter Lumber Company. Starting pay: $1.25 an hour.
Peter Lumber Company was founded in 1932 by Hugh Peter, Sr. Now in its third generation, the family-owned business has maintained its reputation for providing home building supplies and advice to its customers.
The regional company maintains locations in Pleasantville; Hammonton; Medford; Pitman; Millville; Kennett Square, Pa.; and Limerick, Pa. Their railyard and showroom are based out of Pleasantville on Washington Avevue
Leopardi was officially hired by Peter Lumber Company on Nov. 1, 1954. He started out as a truck driver and was soon unloading boxcars, a job that required lots of heavy lifting and manpower.
“It wasn’t easy work,” Leopardi said.
For decades, he operated the forklift, loading trailers bound for the company’s other yards.
What makes Leopardi special is his devotion to the position he was hired for. He was always at his job.
“I only missed a week of time, way back,” he said.
Mac Peter, 77, former president of Peter Lumber Company and son of the late founder, Hugh Peter, worked his first summer job at Peter Lumber, afterwards devoting several years to education and serving in the U.S. Army.
Upon returning to his father’s business, he noticed a familiar face.
“I started there again, and Monte was there that whole time; I admired what he was able to do.”
To this day, Peter Lumber Company still receives shipments by freight train. Shipments are brought in from the West Coast, a 2,800-mile trip. They often arrive jostled and shifted along their journey.
“Things would shift in the doorways, and you had to be very skillful to get the material out with a forklift; Monte was good at that.”
Before utilizing forklifts, all the lumber was placed into and out of each freight car piece by piece. The first thing to come in for lift unloading was plywood, which came into the yard loose loaded, and took at least a day and a half to unload. Today, all shipments are received on flat cars and unloaded quickly.
After a lifetime of devotion and dedication, Leopardi officially retired last year after a 67-year career. Although he no longer operates the forklift, Leopardi still maintains the company’s alarm system out of the Pleasantville showroom and stops in from time-to-time to check in on the staff.
It’s not very often you find someone who is devoted to their job quite like Monte Leopardi. His dedication and his passion for what he enjoyed are appreciated not only by his former employer, but also by those who have seen his skills at work.
He and his wife, Caroline, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Friday, May 27.
Steffen Klenk is a multimedia journalist. He resides in Ocean City and enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.
