Document:

Exhibit 10.2

                        SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

     This Separation  Agreement (the  "Agreement") is made as of the 31st day of
March,  2009,  between East Boston Savings Bank ("EBSB" or the "Bank) and Philip
F. Freehan ("Mr. Freehan").

     In  consideration  of the  settlement  of the  dispute  between the parties
regarding  the  effect of the  provisions  of the  employment  agreement  by and
between EBSB and Mr Freehan dated December 29, 2003 (the "Employment Agreement")
and the termination of Mr.  Freehan's  employment with EBSB on February 26, 2009
(the "Resignation/Retirement Date") and in consideration of the mutual covenants
and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable  consideration,  the
receipt and  sufficiency of which is hereby  acknowledged,  the parties agree as
follows:

     1.  Resignation.  Effective as of the date of this  Agreement,  Mr. Freehan
shall  resign  from all  positions  (including  any  position  as a member of an
executive  committee,   Director,  Trustee,  committee  member  or  any  officer
designation) that he holds with EBSB, Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc. ("MIB"),
Meridian Financial Services, Inc. ("MFS"), Meridian Charitable Foundation, Inc.,
Hampshire First Bank, Prospect, Inc., ESOP Funding Corp., or any other affiliate
of EBSB, MIB or MFS. If requested by the Bank, Mr. Freehan shall sign a document
which confirms such resignations.

     2. Settlement  Payment and  Post-Resignation  Obligations.  Within five (5)
business days of Mr. Freehan's  execution of this Agreement,  the Bank shall pay
Mr.  Freehan a lump-sum gross payment of $53,234.47  (representing  for his base
salary in effect as of February  26, 2009 and for the period from  February  27,
2009 to May 15, 2009).  The Bank shall also pay Mr.  Freehan the gross amount of
$123,580 over six (6) months in equal amounts, with the first payment commencing
June 15, 2009 and with such  payments  to be made in  accordance  with  ordinary
payroll practices.  In consideration for these payments, Mr. Freehan shall abide
by  all  of  the  post-termination   obligations  contained  in  the  Employment
Agreement,  including but not limited to the  obligations set forth in Section 7
(Confidential  Information,  Noncompetition  and  Cooperation) of the Employment
Agreement, and such post-termination  obligations shall remain in full force and
effect following the Retirement/Resignation Date.

     3. Supplemental  Executive Retirement  Agreement.  The Amended and Restated
Supplemental  Executive Retirement Agreement between Mr. Freehan and EBSB, dated
as of  January 1, 2007 (the  "SERP"),  remains  in full  force and  effect.  Mr.
Freehan has elected to have the Bank pay the  non-forfeitable  percentage of his
SERP  benefits,  in which he is 100% vested,  in a lump sum payment  pursuant to
Section 2(d) of the SERP, in an amount equal to $1,303,351  plus $21,470,  which
represents  the amount of interest  calculated  at the Prime Rate as reported in
The Wall Street  Journal on February  26, 2009 for the period  beginning on such
date and ending August 30, 2009,  subject to the  provisions of Section 6 below,
with the total lump sum  payment in the amount of  $1,324,821  to be made to Mr.
Freehan on September 1, 2009.  This payment would have been made to Mr.  Freehan
and/or his beneficiaries regardless of whether or not he executed this Agreement
as it is owed to Mr. Freehan by the Bank under the SERP.
<PAGE>

     4. Split Dollar and Bank Owned Life Insurance.  The Split Dollar  Agreement
between Mr.  Freehan and EBSB,  dated December 29, 2003 (the "SDA") and the Bank
Owned Life Insurance covering Mr. Freehan,  remain in full force and effect, and
it is  represented  and  acknowledged  by EBSB that the SDA and Bank  Owned Life
Insurance  each  provide  a  death  benefit  equal  to  $617,900  and  $494,320,
respectively,  payable to Mr. Freehan's  beneficiaries  upon his death. The Bank
agrees to maintain or cause to be maintained  in effect,  and to pay or cause to
be paid the full amount of applicable  premiums under, the SDA in effect for Mr.
Freehan until Mr.  Freehan's  death and the Bank Owned Life  Insurance in effect
for Mr. Freehan and his spouse, respectively until, as to each, their respective
deaths.  These  benefits would have been provided to Mr.  Freehan,  and payments
made  to his  beneficiaries,  regardless  of  whether  or not he  executed  this
Agreement as these are benefits owed to Mr. Freehan by the Bank.

     5. Death. In the event of Mr.  Freehan's death before all payments are made
to Mr.  Freehan  pursuant to this  Agreement,  all payments  will be made to Mr.
Freehan's  beneficiaries,  as he has  identified,  at the same time the payments
would have been made if Mr. Freehan had not died.

     6.  Taxation of  Payments.  EBSB shall  undertake to make  appropriate  tax
deductions,  tax  withholdings  and tax reports  with  respect to  payments  and
benefits under this Agreement to the extent that it reasonably and in good faith
believes that it is required to make such tax deductions,  tax  withholdings and
tax reports; provided, however, that no withholdings shall be made on account of
Section 409A of the Internal  Revenue Code.  Payments made under this  Agreement
shall be in amounts net of any such  deductions or  withholdings.  Except to the
extent  otherwise  specified,  nothing in this  Agreement  shall be construed to
require EBSB to make any payments to compensate  Mr. Freehan for any adverse tax
effect  associated  with  any  payments  or  benefits  or for any  deduction  or
withholding from any payment or benefit.

     7. Health Insurance and Other Benefits. EBSB shall provide Mr. Freehan with
the right to continue  group  medical and dental  insurance  coverage  after the
Resignation/Retirement Date, at his own expense, under the law known as "COBRA."
The terms for that  opportunity  will be set forth in a separate written notice.
The Bank agrees to maintain or cause to be maintained  in effect,  and to pay or
cause to be paid the full amount of  applicable  premiums  under,  the long term
care  policies  currently in effect for Mr.  Freehan and his spouse (UNUM Policy
Nos. LAC716021 and LAC716145) respectively,  until, as to each, their respective
deaths.  Mr. Freehan's  eligibility to participate in any other employee benefit
plans and  programs  of the Bank  ceases on or after the  Resignation/Retirement
Date in accordance with applicable benefit plan or program terms.

     8. Mutual Release of Claims. In consideration  for the settlement  payments
made under Paragraph 2 of this Agreement,  Mr. Freehan voluntarily  releases and
forever discharges the Bank, its affiliated and related entities (including MIB,
MFS, Meridian Charitable Foundation,  Inc., Hampshire First Bank, Prospect, Inc.
and ESOP Funding Corp.), its and their respective  predecessors,  successors and
assigns, its and their respective employee benefit plans and fiduciaries of such
plans, and the current and former officers, directors, shareholders,  employees,
attorneys, accountants and agents of each of the foregoing in their official and
personal capacities (collectively referred to as the "Releasees") generally from
all claims,  demands,  debts,  damages and liabilities of every name and nature,
known or unknown  ("Claims")  that, as of the date when he signs this Agreement,
<PAGE>

Mr.  Freehan  has,  ever had,  now  claims to have or ever  claimed  to have had
against any or all of the Releasees. This release includes,  without limitation,
all Claims:

o    relating to Mr. Freehan's  employment by and termination of employment with
     the Bank and any of its affiliated and related entities;
o    of wrongful discharge;
o    of breach of contract;
o    of  discrimination  or  retaliation  under  federal,  state  or  local  law
     (including, without limitation, Claims of age discrimination or retaliation
     under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act);
o    under any other federal or state statute;
o    of defamation or other torts;
o    of violation of public policy;
o    for wages, bonuses, incentive compensation,  stock, stock options, vacation
     pay or any other  compensation  or  benefits;  and o for  damages  or other
     remedies of any sort, including, without limitation,  compensatory damages,
     punitive damages, injunctive relief and attorney's fees;

provided,  however,  that  notwithstanding the foregoing,  this release does not
include and will not  preclude:  (a)  non-termination  related  claims under the
Massachusetts  Workers  Compensation  Act  (M.G.L.  c.  152)  or any  disability
insurance  policies;  (b) rights and claims to vested  benefits under the Bank's
Section 401(k) Plan,  employee stock  ownership plan and  tax-qualified  defined
benefit  pension  plan;  (c) rights and claims under the SDA and Bank Owned Life
Insurance;  (d) rights and claims under the long term care policies currently in
effect  for  Mr.  Freehan  and  his  spouse  (UNUM  Policy  Nos.  LAC716021  and
LAC716145);  (e)  non-termination  related claims under the Employee  Retirement
Income Security Act (29 U.S.C.  ss. 1001 et seq.); (f)  non-termination  related
rights and claims as a shareholder of Meridian Interstate  Bancorp,  Inc. and/or
under the employee  stock  ownership  plan;  (g) rights  under the  Consolidated
Omnibus Budget  Reconciliation  Act of 1985 ("COBRA");  (h) rights and claims to
defense and  indemnification  from the Bank and/or the Bank's insurers under the
Bank's Bylaws,  Directors & Officers  Liability  policy and/or under common law;
and/or (i) claims,  actions,  or rights arising under or to enforce the terms of
this Agreement.

     Mr. Freehan  agrees that he shall not accept  damages of any nature,  other
equitable or legal remedies for his own benefit,  attorney's fees, or costs from
any of the Releasees with respect to any Claim released by this Agreement.  As a
material  inducement  to the Bank to enter  into  this  Agreement,  Mr.  Freehan
represents  that he has not  assigned to any third  party any Claim  released by
this Agreement.

     The Bank, its affiliated and related entities (including MIB, MFS, Meridian
Charitable  Foundation,  Inc.,  Hampshire  First Bank,  Prospect,  Inc. and ESOP
Funding Corp.),  its and their respective  predecessors,  successors and assigns
("Bank  Releasees")  voluntarily  releases and forever  discharges  Mr.  Freehan
generally from all claims, demands, debts, damages and liabilities of every name
and  nature,  known or  unknown  that,  as of the date when the Bank  signs this
<PAGE>

Agreement, the Bank Releasees have, ever had, now claims to have or ever claimed
to have had against Mr. Freehan, provided,  however, that this release shall not
affect the rights of the Bank under this Agreement and the rights of the Bank to
enforce all of the  post-termination  obligations under the Employment Agreement
or to obtain damages for any breach of this Agreement by Mr.  Freehan.  The Bank
represents  and  warrants  that its  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer has
authority to sign this release of claims on behalf of the Bank Releasees.

     9. Return of Property.  All documents,  records,  data, equipment and other
physical  property,  whether or not pertaining to any confidential  information,
that have been or are in the future  furnished to Mr. Freehan by the Bank or are
produced by Mr. Freehan in connection  with his  employment or other  engagement
will be and remain the sole property of the Bank.  Mr.  Freehan shall return all
such materials and property by the Resignation/Retirement Date.

     10. Mutual  Nondisparagement.  In consideration for the settlement payments
made under Paragraph 2 of this Agreement, Mr. Freehan shall not make or cause to
be made any derogatory or  disparaging  statement to anyone about EBSB or any of
its  affiliates,  its or their  products  or  services,  its or their  financial
condition or proposals, or about any of the directors,  officers or employees of
EBSB or its affiliates.  In  consideration  for Mr.  Freehan's  promises in this
Agreement, EBSB shall not make or cause to be made any derogatory or disparaging
statement to anyone about Mr. Freehan.  The provisions of this section shall not
be construed to affect the  obligations of Mr. Freehan to testify  truthfully as
to facts, or provide a belief or opinion in good faith, in any legal  proceeding
or to provide  truthful  information as to facts, or provide a belief or opinion
in good faith, in any government  investigation.  If either party  believes,  in
good faith, that the other party has breached this provision,  before taking any
actions  under or pursuant to this  Agreement in response  thereto,  the alleged
non-breaching  party shall provide the alleged  breaching party (and the alleged
breaching party's counsel: if EBSB, Lawrence Spaccasi, Esq., and if Mr. Freehan,
Barbara A. Robb,  Esq.) at least five business  days' written  notice by courier
(which  notice shall  state,  to the extent  known,  who  committed  the alleged
breach,  when and  where  the  alleged  breach  occurred,  all  facts  and words
constituting  the alleged  breaching  statement,  to whom the alleged  breaching
statement  was made,  and the course of action the alleged  non-breaching  party
plans to take in response  thereto) so that the alleged  breaching  party has an
opportunity  to seek  injunctive  relief  from a court  in the  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts.

     11. Assignment; Successors and Assigns, etc. The Bank may assign its rights
under  this  Agreement  in the  event  that it shall  effect  a  reorganization,
consolidate with or merge into any other corporation,  partnership, organization
or other  entity,  or transfer all or  substantially  all of its  properties  or
assets to any other corporation, partnership, organization or other entity. This
Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Mr. Freehan and the
Bank and each party's respective successors,  executors,  administrators,  heirs
and permitted assigns.

     12.  Enforceability.   If  any  portion  or  provision  of  this  Agreement
(including,  without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this
Agreement)  shall to any extent be declared  illegal or unenforceable by a court
of  competent  jurisdiction,  then  the  remainder  of  this  Agreement,  or the
application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to
which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby,
and each portion and provision of this Agreement  shall be valid and enforceable
to the fullest extent permitted by law.
<PAGE>

     13.  Waiver.  No waiver of any provision  hereof shall be effective  unless
made in writing and signed by the waiving party.  The failure of either party to
require the  performance  of any term or  obligation of this  Agreement,  or the
waiver by either  party of any breach of this  Agreement,  shall not prevent any
subsequent  enforcement  of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any
subsequent breach.

     14.  Notices.  Except as  specifically  provided  in  Paragraph  10 (Mutual
Non-Disparagement)  any  notices,  requests,  demands  and other  communications
provided for by this  Agreement  shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered
in person or sent by a nationally  recognized  overnight  courier  service or by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,  return receipt requested, to Mr.
Freehan at the last address he has filed in writing with EBSB or, in the case of
EBSB, at its main offices,  attention of the CEO.  Delivery by overnight courier
service shall be effective on the first business day after mailing.  Delivery by
registered  or  certified  mail shall be  effective  three  days after  mailing.
Delivery in person shall be effective upon delivery.

     15. Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written
instrument signed by Mr. Freehan and by a duly authorized  representative of the
Bank.

     16. Governing Law. This is a Massachusetts  contract and shall be construed
under  and be  governed  in all  respects  by the  laws of the  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts,  without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles of such
Commonwealth. With respect to any disputes concerning federal law, such disputes
shall be determined in accordance  with the law as it would be  interpreted  and
applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

     17.  Authority/Approval.   The  Bank  represents  and  warrants  that  this
Agreement has been approved by its Board of Directors.

     18.  Full  Resolution.  Mr.  Freehan  and the Bank  acknowledge  that  this
Agreement resolves all matters concerning his employment,  Employment Agreement,
SERP  and  employment   separation,   including  without  limitation  separation
compensation.

     19.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  any  number  of
counterparts,  each of which when so executed and delivered shall be taken to be
an  original.  Such  counterparts  shall  together  constitute  one and the same
document.

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective
on the date and year first above written.

                                     EAST BOSTON SAVINGS BANK

/s/ Mary Wade                        By: /s/ Richard J. Gavegnano
--------------------------------         --------------------------------------
WITNESS                               Richard J.Gavegnano
                                  Its:Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 /s/ Barbara Lodovice                 /s/ Philip F. Freehan
--------------------------------      -----------------------------------------
WITNESS                               PHILIP F. FREEHANExhibit 10.9

Exhibit 10.9

Employment Letter for Bruce S. Rosenbloom dated May 30, 2001

May 30, 2001

Dear Mr. Bruce Rosenbloom:

PetMed Express, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased you have agreed to accept our offer of employment. As discussed, you will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer on May 30th 2001. This letter will serve to confirm our understanding of your acceptance of this position.

1. 

You will be compensated with a yearly salary in the amount of $90,000 (ninety). 

2. 

You will be granted the right to purchase up to 50,000 shares of the Company Stock on May 30th 2001. The terms of the options will be spelled out in a separate letter to you.

3. 

You will be entitled to participate in all benefit programs of the Company currently existing or hereafter made available to executive and/or salaried employees.

4. 

Your employment and compensation with the Company are "at will" in that they can be terminated with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at the option of either the Company or yourself, except as otherwise provided by law. The terms of this offer letter, therefore, do not and are not intended to create either an express and/or implied contract of employment with the Company. 

5. 

If the Company terminates your employment other than for cause, you will be entitled to three (3) months severance pay at your base salary at the time of your termination. “Cause” shall mean (a) committing or participating in an act of fraud, neglect, misrepresentation, embezzlement or dishonesty against the Company; (b) committing or participating in any other act or omission wantonly, willfully, recklessly or in a manner which was negligent against the Company; (c) engaging in a criminal enterprise involving moral turpitude; (d) conviction for a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (e) loss of any state or federal license required for you to perform your material duties or responsibilities for the Company.

Mr. Bruce Rosenbloom, if you agree with and accept the terms of this offer of employment, please sign below and return this letter to our office. We are confident your employment with PetMed Express will prove mutually beneficial, and we look forward to having you join us.

Very truly yours,

Accepted by:

/s/ Menderes Akdag

/s/ Bruce S. Rosenbloom

Menderes Akdag

Date _May 30, 2001

Chief Executive Officer

Bruce Rosenbloom

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