Tuesday, September 30, 2025
When I became the Angler Education Program Coordinator 30 plus years ago Bob was already an established program instructor and was a huge help to yours truly early on. Bob came into the program in the late 1980’s and the team of the late Al Knod and Bob Andrews was a formidable one in the Nashoba Valley, and later Metro West Working groups. Bob loved teaching our older format fishing classes in and around the greater Boston area. He had a passion for fishing and for teaching that was unrivaled. Al Knod was the salesman of the group, setting up the classes and securing freebee fishing gear from vendors far and wide, but Bob was the main instructor instrumental in actually teaching the classes. They taught so many basic fishing classes as well as specialty classes on ice fishing and fly fishing. Bob was also the main man behind our fishing festivals at Horn Pond, and Spot Pond helping to get those events off the ground and running. Both of those events had long run times of 20 to 25 years. Bob also helped to set up and run the Harold Parker State Forest Family Fishing Festival which is still going strong after 30 plus years. Bob worked to promote the program as well joining us in the Angler Education Program booths at many sporting shows over the years. Bob was also a huge supporter of Woburn scouting, donating his time, money, and fishing gear to them over many years.
Together with his wife Veronica, Bob produced a seasonal outdoor show with Woburn Public Access called “Come Along with Us”. I was privileged to be a guest on that show several times promoting the Angler Education Program and other MassWildlife topics. For a small budget cable access show, I was amazed at how polished Bob and Veronica made this. He had some superstar guests as well, including the likes of Jimmy Houston over the years and was very proud of that, and keeping the folks of greater Woburn in the know on all things outdoors.
In his later years, even into his late 80’s Bob was still active helping with weekday evening family fishing clinics and weekend fishing festivals. His wonderful daughter D would bring Bob out when he couldn’t drive anymore and Bob would sit and help folks rig up their rods and bait their hooks. To the end he was active and still very fond of our program. He was one of the longest serving instructors in the history of our program and an absolute gem of a man to work with. They rarely make em that good anymore.
Well done my friend, rest in peace Bobby.
Sincerely, Jim Lagacy - MassWildlife Angler Education Program
