By Cassidy Silva and Amber Smith
This spring, local Wakefield seniors and Wakefield Memorial High School seniors came together for lunch, conversation, and interviews as part of a cross-generational program called Seniors to Seniors. The resulting articles written by students are being published as a series. Seniors to Seniors is a collaboration between Wakefield Memorial High School, The Savings Bank, JC Marketing Associates, The Room to Write, The Wakefield Daily Item, and the Wakefield Senior Center.
Robert “Bob” Curran was the 2018 winner of the St. Vincent de Paul Top Hat Award given by the state of Massachusetts for his significant contributions to the community. Over his lifetime, Bob has served his country, aided people in need, and left behind an unforgettable legacy. The impact he has left on the people around him has not gone unnoticed– his contributions, grand or simple, have positively impacted countless lives. Ever since Bob was young, his goal has always been to help people and to make them smile.
Bob was born in Wakefield in 1933. Growing up, his family was very close-knit. He and his two brothers with whom he used to play baseball as a pastime, never fought. Bob has always enjoyed playing sports and even played on his high school’s baseball team. He attended Wakefield High School where he graduated in 1950. He would then go on to receive his diploma from the Mass Radio and TV School in 1952, which he would take to the MIT Lincoln Laboratory where he was an electronic technician.
In 1953, he joined the Air Force with the hopes of creating a positive change in the lives of as many people as possible. He flew on a Convair B-36 Peacemaker and “…was a tail gunner on the standard crew, which meant [he] evaluated every other crew on the base… So [he] had to go and fly with other groups and evaluate them and see how they did…” He served in the Air Force until 1957 and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant.
Bob married his wife, Carole, in 1957 and they had four kids: David, Kathleen, Kevin, and Nancy. In 1958, he started attending Northeastern University in the evenings where he would later receive his Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology. After 8 years of night school, He was promoted at Lincoln Lab due to his impressive efforts and determination. His time studying at Northeastern was far from easy as he commuted into Boston every day from work for school, and back again at night to his home, but it meant a lot to him to continue his education. According to Bob he “didn’t study as hard as [he] should have in high school.” One piece of advice he gave was to stay in school and study.
One of the ways in which Bob finds joy is by being an active participant in his community. He served as the editor of the Knights of Columbus monthly bulletin from 1971 to 2019 and in 1995 received the “Bishop Miniham Memorial Award” from the Knights of Columbus “for [his] unheralded contributions to mankind.” Bob also really enjoys playing golf, he became a Bear Hill golf member in 1988 and is still one today.
In 1996, Bob took his passion for helping others to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul charity where he served as treasurer until 2024. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a sisterhood and brotherhood comprised of people who use the community to help and support others in difficult financial situations. They help to house, feed, and clothe those in need using donations to fund disaster relief, thrift stores, and soup kitchens. “Probably my best accomplishment was my 28 years as the treasurer of Saint Vincent de Paul,” according to Bob. His position allowed him to directly support those in need by “paying peoples’ light bills, paying their rent, and giving them gift cards to Market Basket.” His genuine generosity was recognized by the society in 2018 when he received the state’s highest honor: the Top Hat Award, the real reward for Bob was when he could help people that are in trouble.
In fact, Bob wasn’t satisfied with his commendable services quite yet. Following in his father’s footsteps, he served a two-year term in 1998 on the Wakefield Board of Public Works before shifting over to the Advisory Board of Public Works in 2001. “After I got elected, they made a non-elective office so the Selectmen kept asking me to stay on the board.” Bob was reappointed to the board every 3 years until his retirement in 2015. While on the board, he served once more as a leader as Chairman every third year. During his time at the Public Works Board, he contributed to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Committee from 2005 to 2015 and the Council on Aging Board from 2007 until 2013.
In his free time, Bob found other ways to help in all aspects of life. From family to community, he lives for the benefit of others.
From 2008 to 2010, Bob volunteered at My Brother’s Table in Lynn to serve meals to the homeless. Simultaneously, Bob continued to be a beacon of support for his family. When his wife was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, he stayed by her side. He moved into Brightview Senior Living to better manage her disease where he remained even after her death in 2018.
Using the experience he gained as a Lector of St. Joseph’s parish and the principal of their CCD program for ten years, Bob brings communion to the residents of the Brightview community. He continues to be a fundamental advocate for helping where you can, when you can.
Bob Curran is a man of philanthropy, of character, and of pure dedication to community. He’s a man who gives and gives and gives and expects nothing in return. Just recently, Bob turned 92 years old and surmises his life philosophy succinctly: “I like to help people,” Bob says, “I like to make people smile.”
