Absolutely!

Walter McKenzie
Jul 5
4 min read

In loving memory, admiration and gratitude for our dear friend and colleague, Charles Gobron.

Dr. Charles Gobron is a longtime friend and colleague who leaves an indelible mark on who I am as an educator and as a person. I found out that we lost him this week, and it moved me to reflect on all the ways he has influenced me. This post is the result of this period of reflection on the life of this amazing man. -Walter

I learned so much from Charles Gobron over the years. A career educator-leader active in Massachusetts teacher union work, he led the committee that hired me to serve as Director of Technology for the Northborough-Southborough Regional School District, about 50 miles west of downtown Boston. And while Boston is my birthplace, Northborough is where I grew up, so I already felt very much at home in this new role. There are few people who could have made it possible, but Charles made me feel even more welcome in my boyhood home!

He had a way about him. More than open; inviting. More than human; understanding. Charming, Funny. Warm. Caring. Perceptive. Witty. And Charles always kept it real. Leave the blarney at the door, because he sees right through it. An Irishman from head to toe, he was full of memorable lines, like “Looks like someone is experiencing some emotional dysregulation” and “You’re not paying for this, I have more money than God!” But my most favorite term that I internalized as my own was a short, emphatic “Absolutely!” which we worked into any conversation with the confidence of Vince Lombardi on game day.

But it was more than confidence. It was positive energy fueling possibilities. It was the inclusive intention of all of us working together to get things done. It was affirming that there was no doubt in his mind we were all moving forward together. It didn’t matter what the subject was or who was in the conversation, “Absolutely” set the standard and everyone loved him for it.

We accomplished much together, from school board policy pushes to regional district budget battles, from internal senior staff squabbles to the death of a sitting superintendent. When the district went looking for answers, Charles’ can-do attitude was always right there ready and willing, and as a result he became superintendent himself. We had great conversations behind closed doors and in full public view. There were times we laughed so hard we couldn’t stop, and other times we picked each other up, dusted each other off, and vowed to try another day. In all things, we were friends and allies. I never worked with anyone better.

We lost Charles this week, after a long, brave fight with cancer. He worked right up until the end; he still loved bringing along new leaders and helping everyone feel successful. For those who disagreed with his policies or vision for moving forward, he was an enigma, winning them over as friends even if they couldn’t support him on the issues. His wit and humor were the Achilles heel for anyone who took themselves too seriously. He would confound them with his resilience, achieving things that seemed unattainable and making it look easy. He was all about the work and he worked hard to win, but you’d never realize it unless you were right in there with him experiencing his grit and determination first hand. He always seemed to be having fun.

I last saw Charles this time last summer as I did my “retirement tour” among close friends back home. It meant the world to me to spend that afternoon talking and laughing and catching up. He was fighting the good fight, and we weren’t sure if or when we would see each other again. Ss since then, we kept in touch long distance, discussing everything from work to family to our beloved Red Sox. He was hoping to make it to the Cape once more this summer for his family’s traditional vacation together. So while I am sad to know he is gone, I am forever grateful for what he means to me and so many others whom he graced with his presence in their lives. He showed all of us how to live and leave a legacy, standing on his shoulders.

Thank you, Charles, for helping me be the man I am today. For all the ways I have emulated you over the years, there is one word that sums up your brilliance, empowering the believers and disarming the doubters, and I have been making it my own for decades. It is my testament to you every time it comes out of my smiling, Irish mouth: “Absolutely!”