Robert Benjamin "Bobby" Gordon
Robert Benjamin "Bobby" Gordon of Seekonk, MA died on September 5, 2018 at the age of 77. He and his wife Valerie (Tripp) had been married for 46 years.
Born in Cambridge, MA, Robert was the son of George and Lottie Gordon. He graduated from Brookline High School, the University of Pennsylvania, and earned his Master’s Degree in education from Northeastern University.
For 38 years he was a well-respected teacher, department head, guidance counselor and coach in the Swansea school system until his retirement in 2003.
During his 21 years as a baseball coach, always wearing his old maroon sweatshirt, his teams won 315 games, 13 teams qualified for the state tournament, and 7 won state championships. He was inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992.
His 17-year basketball tenure included 222 wins, a state class C championship, 2 class C finalist teams, 4 league championships, and the 1971 never-to-be-forgotten classic loss to Holy Family High School in 5 overtimes! He also coached the girl’s junior high basketball team for 5 years. In 2015, the Case Junior High boys’ basketball court was named in his honor and in 2008, he was inducted into the Case High Athletic Hall of Fame.
He always thought of himself as an educator first - establishing limits, enforcing rules, and being fair. A gentleman both on and off the court or playing field, he was regarded as one of the classiest coaches anywhere. To quote many, "He was one of the good guys."
In the 1960's, he spent several summers in Maine as director of the West End House Boys Camp, often employing Case High students as staff. In 2010, his cabin at the camp was officially renamed "Bobby's Cabin" by his former campers.
In retirement, he was a co-founder and co-director of the Narry Basketball Camp for Girls and Boys 1999-2012. Also, he and his cousin Laurie founded the West End House Girls Camp in Parsonsfield, ME. The camp's outdoor basketball court is dedicated to him.
He loved his family, the Boston Globe, Pearl hot dogs, politics, Snapple iced tea, watching the Red Sox and Patriots, a good steak, following high school sports, and having lunch with friends and former players and students.
He is survived by his daughter Taber, her husband Christopher and their children Benjamin, Violet and Henry; his daughter Brie, her husband Rigaud and their children Dia and Riis; brothers David (Mary Ellen), Peter (Wendy), and Richard (Paula); brother-in-law Spencer Tripp (Carol-ann); 6 nieces and 2 nephews.
The family would like to thank his PCP David Steigman for over 20 years of outstanding, compassionate medical care.
A celebration of his life, to which family and friends are invited, will be held at 12:00 on Saturday, September 15 at the Venus de Milo Restaurant, 75 Grand Army Highway, Swansea, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor to the West End House Girls Camp, c/o Laurie Palagi, 39 Pine Ridge Road, Parsonsfield, ME 04047 would be gratefully appreciated.
