Family, friends, city councilors and other community members gathered on April 8 to honor Alvin “Big Joe” McKenzie with a street naming ceremony on Marlborough Street.
Reminder Publishing photos by Ryan Feyre
SPRINGFIELD — Alvin “Big Joe” McKenzie Sr. left an indelible impact on people around him, and now, his influence will forever be etched into the heart of his community.
When people pass through the Upper Hill Neighborhood, they will notice that the street sign at the corner of Marlborough Street and Middlesex Street and the corner of Marlborough Street and Norfolk Street is now named “Alvin J. McKenzie Way,” in honor of the local legend who left a “legacy of perseverance and education.”
“He was a mentor and an advocate for education,” said Maria Parkinson McKenzie, the eldest daughter of Alvin. “That’s what his legacy was all about.”
Maria was one of the many loved ones who gathered with family, friends, city officials and other community members on a blustery April 8 afternoon to tell stories of her father and remember him for who he was: an embodiment of the American Dream and a lodestar for future generations.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica on April 8, 1936, Alvin immigrated to the United States in 1975 at the age of 39, arriving with no job, no passport and no marital status. Despite those circumstances, he became determined to build a better life, so he made education his top priority.
He first earned his GED before pursuing an associate’s degree in human services from Springfield Technical Community College. Eventually, he earned a bachelor’s degree in human services from Springfield College, right near his street sign.
According to his biography, Alvin instilled the importance of education in his eight children — all of whom went on to earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees in various fields — as well as the children that lived in the Upper Hill neighborhood.
In an interview, Maria said her dad would always offer life advice to children in the community and made sure they stayed out of trouble, traits that stemmed from his time as a police officer in Jamaica and a 15-year stint as a security guard at Baystate Medical Center.
Alvin’s bio said he placed a basketball hoop in his backyard of his Marlborough Street home to create a safe space where local children could gather, play and stay engaged. He also became known for his daily walks through the neighborhood, and for asking children, “why aren’t you in school?”
“He was always trying to help these kids that were having troubles,” Maria said. “He taught them how to survive the world, no matter how bad it was.”
Alvin, who passed away from prostate cancer in 2007, has a legacy that lives on through not only the honorary street name, but also through a scholarship endowment at Springfield College led by his son, Ricky. The endowment provides financial support to an undergraduate student who demonstrates financial need with preference given to a student from an underrepresented population who attended Springfield Public Schools.
His family said they expect to extend the endowment to other colleges across the area.
“Sadly, we lost Mr. McKenzie to cancer in 2007, but his memory and legacy of love to his family and children and our students live on,” Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a statement, about Alvin. “Mr. McKenzie was a big believer in education and how it could not only enhance and change lives, but also improve our local community.”
City Councilors Malo Brown, Lavar Click-Bruce and Tracye Whitfield were in attendance for the street naming ceremony on April 8 to offer their respects to Alvin’s legacy. A petition to honor his life with the street sign passed the City Council at a March meeting.
“Mr. McKenzie was an individual who molded a lot of people, and that’s how you see a lot of us today,” Brown said. “There is no us without influence and being molded as a village mentality to strengthen us as a Black community.”
When asked how it feels to have a street named after her dad, Maria landed on a common theme of the afternoon: legacy.
“It’s something that lasts,” she said. “It’s something that can elevate the other people in the community, knowing that it can be done…immigrants can come here and make a difference.”
Alvin was honored by his children — Junior McKenzie, Maria and Ricky — as well as his grandchildren — Karen McKenzie, Phillip Crawford, Timika McKenzie and Monique McKenzie — throughout the ceremony. Neighborhood residents on Marlborough Street also attended to receive recognition and to honor the local legend.
According to his bio, Alvin leaves behind nine children, over 50 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
