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Today, the former science teacher, who is now the UFT treasurer, the president of the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems, a trustee and the board chairman of the Teachers’ Retirement System of New York City and the chair of the Municipal Labor Committee’s pension committee, is still that “good guy.”

This was evident in the outpouring of respect and affection that Aaronson received from the more than 1,300 UFT members, friends, family and colleagues at Teacher Union Day, where he was honored with the prestigious Charles Cogen Award.

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Aaronson’s journey from beginning classroom high school teacher in 1957 has been marked by union activism.

As the Bronx coordinator of the 1960 strike to win collective-bargaining rights, a chapter leader for 10 years, a UFT salary consultant and a member of contract negotiating teams for decades, he learned the ropes and began to focus on what would become his lifetime commitment to building a secure retirement not only for UFT members but also for public employees across the country.

Aaronson was trained in 1969 to explain to members the dramatic improvements in retirement benefits won by the UFT. In 1979, he became the retiree liaison for what he says is an example of the union’s ability “to think outside the box” — the establishment of a retiree chapter, a chapter he has helped nurture to its present membership of 60,000.

But none of Aaronson’s accomplishments seems to go to his head.

As President Michael Mulgrew said at Teacher Union Day, “Mel is one of the kindest, gentlest human beings you can meet.”

Aaronson’s characteristic grace was evident when, upon accepting the award, he gave credit to fellow retirement system trustees Mona Romain and Sandra March. “Without them, I could not have made any contribution,” he said.

He also credited founders Abe Levine and George Altomare, who he called to the stage for recognition.

In turn, his colleagues describe Aaronson as “smart but modest, a coach more than a taskmaster, but a coach who sticks to his guns.” All agree, “he’s not shy.”

Aaronson’s fierceness rises to the surface whenever pensions, Social Security or health benefits come under attack, as they so often do today. He’s rightfully proud that he has helped UFT members secure the best pension package among educators in the nation.

“That’s an achievement,” he said. “But we’re in the battle of our lives because people want to take that away from us.”

Aaronson never shirks a battle. He fights at every turn to protect the traditional defined-benefit pensions UFT members enjoy today. To counter critics suffering from what he has dubbed “pension envy,” Aaronson says all workers deserve retirement benefits that provide dignity and economic security.

“We need retirement security for all,” he told the crowd at Teacher Union Day.

At the heart of everything for Aaronson is family. Although he lost his wife, Evelyn, who was his “strongest supporter,” his daughter, Jodie; sons, Miguel and Paul; and grandchildren, Ross and Liza, are the center of his attention.

Not surprisingly, Aaronson comes from a union background: His father was president of a painters’ union local.

Considered one of the best-known public pension trustees in the country and the recipient of scores of accolades and awards, Aaronson unassumingly notes, “I’ve received two awards in my life — the sweatshirt, which I still have, and this award today.”