66-year-old displaced from his home of 40 years following Boxborough fire

Feb. 18—Mike Volpe was not at home when a four-alarm fire broke out at his condo complex on Swanson Road last week. The 66 year-old Boxborough resident was actually driving home from his job at Audio Lab in Cambridge on the evening of Feb. 10, as firefighters from several towns were attempting to control the flames.

Upon arriving at the turn to go home, Volpe was met by police officers who had closed down Swanson Road. He told them he lived there and was allowed to pullover and walk down. Volpe knew there was a fire but didn't know it was his own building until he saw the chaos right out front.

"I thought, there's eight or nine Harvard Ridge buildings and there's Cisco and a couple other businesses that have buildings so the odds of it being my building are like 10%," said Volpe.

"The closer I got, I realized that most of the fire engines were in front of my building," he said.

From there, police encouraged him to go wait at the Boxborough Regency where the other residents were taking shelter and being assisted by the Red Cross.

The next day, he was allowed into his apartment for 15 minutes, enough time to grab essentials like prescriptions and check books.

In terms of property damage, it's all positional in terms of where the 24 units were located in the three story building. The basement apartment where he lived for the last 40 years was located in the middle section of the building and Volpe was told to expect at least four or five inches of water.

He was relieved by what he saw.

"I might be a little luckier than most," said Volpe. "I would say most of my stuff is OK and there's no water on the floor at all."

A big time audiophile and music collector, Volpe owns 3,500 records, 2,000 CDs, and 2,000 cassettes which all seem to be undamaged.

He remains at the Boxborough Regency — his stay is now being covered by his insurance — while awaiting word on the future of his building. In the meantime, he's been looking at apartments and has found one that he will be able to afford thanks to a GoFundMe that has raised over $8,000.

"Most of the apartments need first and last month's rent plus security deposit up front so that money will be very, very helpful," he said.

At the time of the fire, Volpe's condo was almost paid off. Between mortgage and condo fees he was paying under $600 a month to live there. Earning a modest paycheck as the long-time manager of the Audio Lab, an electronics mainstay in Harvard Square, Volpe lived modestly and saved what he could for retirement.

The fire, he said, has thrown his retirement for a loop. He estimates that between Social Security and the GoFundMe money, he should be okay for the next six months but if renovations drag out for longer than a year, then he could be in financial trouble.

"When the fire happened and I went to Craigslist and looked at apartments, they're like $2,000 to $3,000 a month. I can't afford that. I don't know how anyone can afford that unless you have a really good job," he said.

No stranger to adversity

Volpe has been fighting mantle cell lymphoma for the last seven years. Late last year he spent two months in the hospital receiving treatment and came close to death. His friend and long-time customer at the Audio Lab, Tatsu Ikeda, visited him nearly every day. He'd bring Volpe everything from clothes to his favorite strawberry smoothie. Although Volpe couldn't wear the clothes or keep the drink down, they made him feel almost normal and so Ikeda continued doing it.

In January, Ikeda drove Volpe home from the hospital which was a major milestone. A week before the fire, doctors told Volpe he is in remission.

Ikeda started the GoFundMe to help Volpe get on his feet after the fire and to let him know people care.

"We'd been dealing with his cancer for months," said Ikeda. To feel like you got out of the woods and then to have another tragedy is almost too much."

Ikeda said Volpe is not the type to ask for help although over the years he has been quietly generous in his own right.

"If you were homeless, Mike would let you leave whatever little possessions you had in the back of the store for safekeeping," said Ikeda.

Isaid despite all Volpe has been through, he has a positive attitude and has been dealing with the fallout from the fire and his subsequent homelessness quite calmly.

"I think beating back cancer kind of prepares someone for situations like these," said Ikeda. "Mike is a victim here but he's also a hero."

To donate to Mike Volpe, please visit his GoFundMe page by clicking here.

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