ANDOVER — It took $2,000, permission from his wife, and a good cause for Town Manager Reginald "Buzz" Stapczynski to see something he hadn't seen in 37 years — an almost clean-shaven face.
The forever-bearded Stapczynski shaved as part of a two-night fundraiser last week that netted almost $100,000 for the Andover Youth Services auction.
It started with someone calling the telethon and offering $500 if Stapczynski would shave his beard, much like Andover Youth Services Director Bill Fahey had done earlier in the fundraiser with some of his staff members. Stapczynski balked, but then another caller offered another $500.
The ante was upped when a local coupled called Friday night and offered to match dollar-for-dollar any money pledged to get to shave. He called his wife, who told him to go ahead since it was for a good cause.
"I wouldn't let them shave it all off," Stapczynski said.
"I actually took off quite a bit," Fahey said. "He really didn't want to do it, and he hadn't planned for it."
The beard-shaving and trimming was just one portion of the two-night, locally televised event for Andover Youth Services.
Throughout the event, there was entertainment provided by local bands, a magician, comedian, an elderly tap dancing troupe, elementary school singing groups and more.
In 2005, the last time Andover Youth Services held a televised fundraiser, the organization raised $100,000, but that included Fahey and his staffers shaving their heads. This year, no heads were shaved, but there still was plenty of hair left on the floor.
Fahey said the money will go toward a $110,000 skate park ramp, a locally funded wrestling program, the ongoing quest to build a new teen center and more.
"One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the kids," Fahey said.
