Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?
~ Clarence the Angel speaking to George Bailey in the film It’s a Wonderful Life
Dear Shrewsbury Families,
I’m sure many of you have heard or seen the news that Ted Coghlin, one of our community’s most consequential leaders and dedicated servants, has died.
Ted had an enormous positive impact on Shrewsbury, Worcester, and the entire region in a multitude of ways. He was a very successful business leader of his family company, but Ted was probably better known for his leadership and support of so many public service and charitable efforts that made his communities better places to live.
Ted was particularly passionate about education and children, and he invested enormous time and effort in ensuring that our town built schools where a top notch public education could be provided to our youngest citizens. Remarkably, he chaired every Shrewsbury school building committee from 1962 until 1997, overseeing the successful construction of the Shrewsbury Junior High School (which later became the recently demolished Sherwood Middle School), Spring Street School, and Floral Street School. He also served on the building committees for the Donahue Rowing Center and the Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building (i.e., Town Hall), and more recently was a strong public advocate for building the new Sherwood Middle School. It is well known that Ted was the driving force behind the construction and organization of Worcester Technical High School, where his wisdom and stewardship were instrumental in its development into a nationally renowned Blue Ribbon School. Through decades of skillful leadership, Ted influenced the quality of thousands upon thousands of students’ school experiences for the better.
Personally, I had the pleasure of having some of Ted’s grandchildren as students when I was at Floral Street School and then again at Oak Middle School, and he and his wife, Maureen, always made it clear that they were willing and able to help support the schools however they could. Whenever I would run into them at an event, Ted would always end our conversation expressing his appreciation for the work the school was doing and reminding me to let him know if he could ever do anything to help. I knew it was a genuine offer (and one that I took him up on occasionally).
Ted made a very strong impression the first time I met him in 1997, when I started work as the assistant principal of the then-brand new Floral Street School. One morning that July, the original Floral Street Principal, Ellen Smith (then Fairbanks), informed me that the school building committee would be meeting that morning and that she wanted to introduce me to the committee chair, Ted Coghlin, when he arrived. Ellen went on to say that she thought that Ted would take a liking to me at first sight, and vice versa, but wouldn’t say why. When Ted entered the office and saw me, he immediately started laughing, and in his inimitable voice he introduced himself and indicated that he appreciated my flattop haircut (he also gave me a tip to go see Nick Perrone, who still cuts my hair today). I still vividly remember the skillful way he ran the committee meeting, and his contagious enthusiasm and pride as he took me for a personal tour of the just-completed school after the meeting. That was my first experience with Ted’s superb leadership ability. He made you feel at ease, he made you feel valued, and he made you want to do your very best work, because he made you realize that serving those who would benefit from that work was very important. I may have unknowingly imitated Ted’s haircut, but interacting with him made me want to purposely imitate Ted’s example. I know I am only one of so very many who have been inspired by Ted over the course of his extraordinary life.
Ted Coghlin was a gentleman who was deeply committed to his family, to his faith, and to serving his community. He accomplished great things with class and humility, and he leaves a remarkable legacy. At this time of year, those who again watch the film It’s a Wonderful Life are reminded of the great influence a single person can have upon a community. There is no doubt that Ted Coghlin was such a person, and all of us who live in this community are indebted to him, as Shrewsbury would not be the town that we know without his many significant contributions.
On behalf of everyone in the Shrewsbury Public Schools, I extend sincere condolences to Ted’s wife, Maureen; his children, grandchildren, and extended family; and to his many friends. His passing does leave “an awful hole” in our community, but his influence lives on because of the wonderful life he led.
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools
