As He Retires, Malden VSO Kevin Jarvis Leaves a Lasting Legacy of Honor and Service

By Tara Vocino

After 15 years of dedicated service, Malden Veterans’ Services Officer Kevin Jarvis is retiring, leaving behind a legacy defined by advocacy, remembrance and deep respect for those who served. Jarvis’ final day with the City of Malden is Jan. 29. While he said he will miss helping veterans most, he expressed confidence that the Executive Office of Veterans Services in Boston will ensure a smooth transition by training and certifying Malden’s next Veterans’ Services Officer.

As Malden’s Director of Veterans’ Services, Jarvis has worked closely with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, serving as a tireless advocate for veterans and their families. His office has guided clients through state and federal benefits, provided financial assistance to veterans and surviving spouses in need and helped secure disability compensation, pensions, medical care, education benefits, home loans and burial assistance.

Jarvis also played a central role in coordinating the city’s Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Flag Day observances. Each Memorial Day, his office — joined by volunteers and students — placed more than 10,000 flags on veterans’ graves throughout Malden cemeteries. He additionally oversaw the dedication of streets, squares and parks named in honor of Malden veterans, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

Among his proudest accomplishments, Jarvis said, is Malden’s collective commitment to honoring veterans. “I know of no other city or town in Massachusetts that has done more to honor and remember its veterans than the city of Malden,” Jarvis said, quoting remarks made by Brig. Gen. Leonid Kondratiuk (Ret.) at a past ceremony. He also praised the volunteers who return year after year to help place flags on veterans’ graves.

During his tenure, the city dedicated six life-size bronze statues honoring combat veterans from the Civil War through the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jarvis will remain involved in one final project: assisting with the design and dedication of a Revolutionary War soldier statue, planned for July 4, 2026, in recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Mayor Gary Christenson thanked Jarvis for creating a legacy that will endure. “Through the installation of veteran statues, the dedication of memorial squares, and his unwavering support for those who have served, Kevin Jarvis ensured that Malden remains committed to remembering our nation’s heroes,” Christenson said.

Veterans’ Services Clerk Martha Ferratusco echoed those sentiments, noting that Jarvis brought extraordinary historical knowledge and dedication to his role. She highlighted major projects, such as bringing the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall to Malden in 2013 and overseeing the placement of six combat veteran statues throughout the city, including one honoring a female service member from the Persian Gulf War — among the first of its kind in the region.

“Kevin’s impact goes far beyond monuments,” Ferratusco said, recalling how Jarvis personally ensured that an ill veteran received proper nursing care and that his affairs were responsibly managed. “His dedication to veterans is both professional and deeply personal.”

That personal connection is rooted in Jarvis’ own service and family history. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Jarvis served five years in the Marines and later spent 30 years in federal law enforcement. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and an associate degree from Bunker Hill Community College.

Since becoming Malden’s VSO in 2010, one of the veterans who most influenced him was World War II veteran William Dempsey. “It was such an honor to share his stories and help preserve his legacy,” Jarvis said. He also reflected on his own family members who served in World War II, including his father, uncle and two uncles who fought in Europe and the Pacific.

Born and raised in Malden, Jarvis graduated from Malden High School in 1974 and began working for the city as a student employee while still in school. He enlisted in the Marine Corps that same year and later received a certificate of commendation for saving a doctor’s life in Africa in 1997.

In retirement, Jarvis plans to spend time gardening, working in his yard and possibly traveling. One trip on his wish list is a Viking River cruise in Europe — though he joked he has had enough time at sea after weeks aboard Navy ships in the Pacific.

Though he is stepping away from his official role, Jarvis’ influence will remain visible throughout Malden — in its monuments, memorials and, most importantly, in the lives of the veterans he served.