PEABODY — The longtime operator of the water treatment plant on Coolidge Avenue, Robert “Bob” Walsh, was honored posthumously by the city Saturday morning.
A large group of family, friends and elected officials gathered at the plant to witness the renaming of the facility in Walsh’s memory.
“Bob was greatly admired for his work,” Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt said. “I was very fortunate to get to know Bob and to see the amazing work that he did for this city. This is such a fitting tribute because he really was the heart and soul of this operation here at the Coolidge water treatment plant. He’s meant so much to so many people in the city and so many people that worked for the city. This is just an amazing tribute to a person who deserves recognition for everything he did.”
Walsh died suddenly at the age of 57 in February after being stricken at work. Born in Salem, Walsh was a lifelong Peabody resident and 1981 graduate of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
Walsh, the husband of the late Sharon L. (Belanger) Walsh, worked as a water treatment operator at the Coolidge Water Plant for 26 years. He also worked part-time as an operator in Rowley. Walsh’s colleagues described him as a dedicated employee who took great pride in his work. His motto was, “If you are not going to do it right, don’t do it at all.”
An avid Red Sox fan, Walsh is survived by his two children, daughter Kelly Pothier (and her husband Ryan Pothier) and son Timothy R. Walsh, and two grandchildren, Savannah and Paisley Pothier, all of Peabody.
At the dedication, Savannah read a beautiful poem she wrote about her grandfather “Grumpa.” She mentioned that every moment she got to spend with him was amazing.
“There was always something funny that would happen,” Pothier said.
Walsh’s daughter Kelly said that the water plant has been a huge part of her family’s lives.
“We could not be more excited that Bob’s home will now have his name on it,” she said, “and that he will forever be remembered for his unprecedented work ethic, his dedication to ensuring the plant ran smoothly, for all his efforts in maintaining the building, and most importantly, his concern for his coworkers and the neighbors surrounding the plant.”
Walsh’s brother, state Rep. Tom Walsh, told The Daily Item that he was overwhelmed by the support he got from the community Saturday.
“Bob was a quiet guy who touched a lot of people in different walks of life. I think he would be amazed at this turnout. He was just probably the most decent human being you would ever want to meet and the hardest worker I have ever met. (He was) that way since we were kids.”
While he loved his job, his home in New Hampshire and Steve’s Shed, Walsh’s favorite activity was spending time with family and friends.
“He was truly loved and cherished by his whole family. His kids and granddaughters were his whole world as he was theirs,” his obituary said. “Bob had a heart of gold and was always willing to help anyone in any way that he could. He will be greatly missed but surely never forgotten.”
Pothier summed it all up in her poem.
“It didn’t matter what we would do, there was always so much fun to be had the whole day and night through,” she said. “No one worked harder for the plant than he did. He sure did make me one proud kid.”
