BOSTON — Cubs president Theo Epstein returned to Boston on Monday for a luncheon to benefit his foundation. Epstein, like tens of thousands of others, listened to the manhunt in Watertown
BOSTON — Like tens of thousands of others, former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein turned to the internet to listen to the Boston police scanner in the early hours of Friday morning as the manhunt for Dzhokar Tsarnaev unfolded.
On Monday, Epstein was back in Boston for an event to benefit his charity, Foundation to be Named Later.
"Police scanner, whole deal," Epstein said in downtown Boston. "It was extremely impressive the way the city pulled together and great to be so proud of law enforcement, the way they handled everything. It was a real test of the city and peoples' will and they passed the test with flying colors. Also at the same time, you think of the victims and feel awful for what their families going through. Hope that it never happens again."
Epstein was joined at the lunch by A's general manager Billy Beane, Red Sox and former A's pitcher Craig Breslow and MLB Network's Peter Gammons. Epstein grew up in Brookline, and called the whole week "surreal."
The luncheon was held at the State Room, which has panoramic, expansive view of the harbor. On a crystal clear day, the beauty of his home city wasn't lost on him following the tragedy of the past week.
"It's great to be here and look out these windows and see the city on a beautiful day," Epstein said. "Everything that happened, you can really the spirit of people here. Feels oddly, almost triumphant. Despite the tragedy of it all, no one's forgetting the victims and the families. There's a sense that Boston really withstood something really serious and came out and will be better for it on the other end in terms of how everyone treated each other, cooperated, showed courage and patience and cooperation."
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