On what would have been “upsizer” Richard “Dick” Wilson’s 83rd birthday on Wednesday, Mayor Greg Verga proclaimed Oct. 11, 2023, Dick Wilson Day in the city in a 2:30 p.m. ceremony in the stands of Newell Stadium which Wilson’s tireless fundraising efforts helped renew.
About 60 people gathered to hear proclamations read in Wilson’s honor and see the scoreboard lit up with the score 10-11 to mark his birthday.
School Committee member Kathleen Clancy read a certificate of recognition from the school board.
Local philanthropist Linzee Coolidge provided some remarks. Wilson and his late wife Barbara were recipients of the city’s Linzee Coolidge Philanthropic Award.
Wilson and his wife of 58 years had five sons, Rick, Glenn, Steve, Gary and Chris. Sons Glenn of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Chris of Connecticut were on hand in the stands along with other family members, and both gave some remarks.
Maggie Rosa read remarks on behalf of Wilson’s friend, former longtime School Committee member Jonathan Pope, who was traveling.
Wilson, a long-time Magnolia resident, died on July 20 at age 82.
He was a left-handed pitcher who threw the first pitch for the new Gloucester Little League program in 1953. He went on to become a standout baseball and basketball player at Gloucester High from which he graduated in 1958.
Wilson later attended Bates College in Maine and the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he was a star baseball player. He had a brief stint in the majors and played professional baseball in Canada, according to his obituary.
He went on to a successful career in insurance as a senior executive with New England Life and as a senior partner with Baystate Financial Services.
Verga’s proclamation spoke about Wilson as integral to the betterment of Gloucester’s schools, youth athletics and the community.
He served on the School Committee for 14 years from 1966 to 1980. During that time, the city opened Plum Cove Elementary School, built O’Maley Middle School and the Talbot Rink, and closed its 19th-century schools.
With various fundraisers, Wilson championed the renovation of Newell Stadium at Gloucester High as a founding member of the nonprofit Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association. A baseball field at O’Maley Innovation Middle School is named in his honor.
Wilson also supported causes such as Wellspring House, the Gloucester Education Foundation, The Open Door food pantry, Gloucester Little League, the rebuilding of the Magnolia Pier and the creation of the Young Legends Ball Hockey Rink at Stage Fort Park, among others.
“His contributions to these organizations were invaluable and he was recognized for his energy and his philanthropy,” Verga said.
Verga first met Wilson as a member of the School Committee in the early 2000s when the schools were facing budget cuts which led to the creation of student athletic fees. He and Pope, then the chair of the School Committee, hoped someone would pick up the mantle and create a nonprofit to subsidize the fees.
No one came forward, so Pope and he started the ball rolling, Verga said.
“And then Jonathan brought in Dick Wilson, and that was it that ball was rolling uphill fast,” Verga said. It was Wilson who coined the name Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association.
Attendees included City Council President Val Gilman, Councilors at-Large Jason Grown, Tony Gross and Jeff Worthley, and Ward 1 Councilor Scott Memhard.
“The Gloucester City Council wishes to express our gratitude and admiration for a special person, philanthropist, friend and community leader,” said Gilman, reading the council’s proclamation.
“Thank you, Dick Wilson, we love you,” Gilman said after reading the proclamation.
Also on hand were schools Superintendent Ben Lummis, Gloucester Education Foundation Executive Director Emily Siegel, and state Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester.
“He helped us remember how important it is to support our community,” Tarr said. “How important it is to roll up our sleeves. and even when the odds seemed long, and even when things seemed impossible, Dick reminded us that that was exactly the time you needed to get started.”
Tarr grew up appreciating Wilson and had the honor of telling the story of Wilson and asking the Senate to adjourn its session in August in Wilson’s memory, making Wilson’s story part of the permanent record of the Massachusetts State Senate.
Wilson’s second son, Glenn, said of his father, “His love of Gloucester, I cannot express that. Growing up here, being a native son, coming back here, that was so very important to him.
“Gloucester did a good job of loving him back.”
Ethan Forman may be contacted at 978-675-2714,or at eforman@northofboston.com.
Credit:Source link
