Tim Purington leaves a substantial legacy after retiring last month from Tapestry Health Systems in Northampton.
Purington for more than two decades was the man behind pioneering needle-exchange programs in Northampton and Holyoke. He developed the first legal syringe exchange program in western Massachusetts in Northampton in 1995. The Holyoke Needle Exchange opened in 2012.
Purington, 56, who lives in Holyoke where he served as a city councilor, was director of harm reduction services at Tapestry. That title, though, does not begin to describe the dedication and passion he brought to his job.
A longtime activist for people with AIDS, Purington was among the first in the public health profession to recognize that one way of preventing the disease from spreading was providing a safe place to obtain clean syringes.
“He sort of embodies harm reduction and has the deepest respect for people no matter who they are and what situation they’re in,” says Cheryl Zoll, CEO of Tapestry. “Tim is a big-hearted person and also has the political savvy to work on issues of public health for stigmatized people. He had a big vision and you really wanted to be part of that.”
Another of his former colleagues, Liz Whynott, who has taken over Purington’s responsibilities at Tapestry, says he was instrumental in changing the perception about needle exchange. “He brings this unique effort and perspective to the harm reduction movement.”
Whynott knows better than most. After graduating from Northampton High School in 2000, Whynott’s life spiraled downward when she became addicted to heroin. In an interview last year with the Gazette, Whynott said the needle exchange program in Northampton was a key to her recovery.
The clinics in Northampton and Holyoke are not just places to exchange dirty needles for clean syringes, but they also provide counseling and other support for addicts.
Soon after Alex B. Morse became mayor of Holyoke in 2012, Purington approached him about starting a needle exchange in that city. The clinic opened on Main Street later that year.
During Purington’s retirement party last month, Morse said the needle exchange clinic is one of his most satisfying accomplishments as mayor. “One of the things I’m most proud of, sincerely, is that we’ve been able to protect more people’s lives in the city of Holyoke via the work that Tapestry Health has done in this needle exchange program over the last five years.”
Purington, who grew up in Colrain, is humble in assessing his career. “You know, I kind of stumbled into public health and it fit really well. I’m just so proud of the work.”
And deservedly so. Some of the community’s most vulnerable people owe their recovery to the dedication and passion that Purington brought to that work.