Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. That’s how many Essex Elementary School parents and students felt in the absence of crossing guard Clifford Westerman a.k.a Poppy. For eight long weeks, Westerman was unable to man his usual crossing guard post every morning and afternoon. Instead he was bedridden while recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous mass.

However, he’s back now, along with his signature smile and welcoming wave, which for many, starts each school day morning with a pleasant reminder that kindness is key.

“I feel very good,” said Westerman, who returned to his post as soon as he got the green light from his doctors. Although he is 30 pounds lighter, he’s still a daily beacon of light greeting parents and students.

“I couldn’t wait to get back to work,” said this 76 year-old great grandfather, who said he’s grateful to be part of such a tight-knit community.

When the news hit of Westerman’s colon cancer diagnosis, family friend and Essex Elementary School mom Brooke Adamson immediately set out on social media to help raise funds to offset medical bills from Westerman through a gofundme page, which to date, has raised $9,195.

“I can’t thank the community enough for helping our wonderful friend,” said Adamson. “It seemed as though a day didn’t pass that I was told how much Mr. Westerman’s smile and wave were missed. We are so thrilled to have him back in place at the EES crosswalk.”

While at St. Francis hospital in New Haven, everything seemed to be going backward for Westerman. After his initial surgery (which went well), he had to be fed a liquid diet through a tube down his throat on three different occasions. This, coupled with his dislike for hospital food, caused the already-slender gentleman to lose 30 pounds, which he is currently trying to gain back with the help of this wife of 54 years Maryann. However, the surgery to remove what he terms “an itty bitty cancerous tumor” was successful and he did not have to undergo chemotherapy, which he is happy about.

“When I came back, a little girl just getting out of school had this big smile on her face, and I asked her, ‘Are you happy because school is out?’ She said, ‘No, I am happy because you are back!’ That really made my day,” said Westerman.

Westerman said he loves his job and will continue to do it as long as he can. He even pushed back his second, follow-up surgery to coincide with the end of the school year, instead of scheduling it for sometime during the school year, because he doesn’t want to miss any more work, or any more smiles.

“I think his family and the kids and our community are what got him through this,” said Adamson, who learned of the importance of community support when her husband Phillip Schaller was diagnosed with and survived bile duct cancer.

To contribute to Westerman’s fund, visit www.gofundme.com/mr-westerman.