On Monday I attended the funeral service for Bob Coard.
Bob was totally unique, extremely dedicated and a true believer in what Community Action is all about. After 45 years on the front lines of our network, Bob retired on Nov. 1 as president and CEO of Action for Boston Community Development. Under his leadership, ABCD has grown into a renowned Community Action Agency with 1,000-plus employees serving more than 100,000 people in need each year.
He was instrumental in establishing the National Community Action Foundation, the Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW) and Greater Boston Legal Services.
In collaboration with Boston Public Schools, he started two high schools for at-risk youth. He also established the Urban College of Boston, the widely recognized college for low-income people. Declaring that education is the only permanent pathway out of poverty, Bob successfully pursued a state charter as well as full accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. More than 750 students, most from Boston’s low-income neighborhoods, register for classes at the two-year college each semester.
When I think of Bob, I largely think about his wonderful sense of humor. He also tolerated my humor. He was the kind of guy I like to play a joke on every once in a while, and I only do that with people I really care about. He was always fair game and a good sport. I will miss Bob Coard deeply for a long time.
At the funeral, I sat by Charles Braithwaite and we reminisced about Bob. While I was talking to him it hit me: the same day we buried Bob Coard at the age of 82, Sargent Shriver, who is dealing with health issues of his own, turned 94. Sarge, Bob and Charles are the three most influential people in my professional life. Each have been greatly involved in helping those who deserve help. It made me think even more about what we’re doing to encourage those who want to carry the torch and commit their careers to helping those who need it most.
No one can fully fill the shoes of a man such as Bob Coard, but we must groom the path for those who follow in his footsteps.
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