Robert D. Hawke
July 20, 1932 — February 4, 2009
GARDNER - Robert D. Hawke, 76, former State Representative, teacher, and community servant, died Wednesday morning, February 4th in the Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner.
Bob was born in Gardner on July 20,1932, the son of the late Arthur E. Hawke and Gladys E. (Waite) Hawke Sorton and was a lifelong resident of Gardner. He graduated from Gardner High School in 1950, received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History-Government in 1954 from Boston University, his LL.B. (Juris Doctor) from Boston University in 1956 and his Masters Degree in Education from Fitchburg State College in 1970. Bob was a long-time teacher in local high schools and colleges before being elected to the state legislature.
He began his teaching career at Murdock High School in Winchendon, teaching for 10 years from 1956 to 1966. In addition to teaching history, he was also the chairman of the Social Studies Department. From 1966 to 1991, Bob taught at Gardner High School. He was the Social Studies Department Chairman, a Psychology and Business Law instructor and also taught the U.S. Constitution, History of the Soviet Union, Problems of Democracy, Mathematics and English. Additionally, he was the Coach of the Debate Club from 1966 to 1990 and Baseball Coach in 1990. Bob was the announcer for Gardner High School Football Games from 1974 to 2006 and the Announcer of Gardner High School Hockey from 1986 to 2007. His additional professional activities included Mount Wachusett Community College as an Instructor of Massachusetts Law, Federal Law and Business Law from 1975 to 1991 and Fisher Junior College from 1981 to 1991 as an Instructor of Massachusetts Law, Federal Law and Business Law at its Fitchburg campus. Bob served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1991 to 1996. He was a member of the House-Senate Conference Committee that revised the Massachusetts Finance Law in 1994, a member of the Special Commission on Ethics Laws in 1995, a member of the Special Commission on the future of State and Community Colleges in 1993, and drafted the language restoring reimbursement of State Ward educational expenses to local school systems (Ch. 71, sec. 96 Educational Reform Law of 1993).
He was active in numerous professional and community associations. He served on the Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce as Account Executive from 1997 to 2000 and was an Ambassador for the Chamber from 2000 to 2006. He was an Incorporator of Heywood Hospital in 1991, Community Representative of the Heywood Hospital Planning Committee from 1976 to 1981, Chairman of the Hospital Community Advisory Committee from 1976 to 1981, former Chairman of the Gardner Republican City Committee from 1966 to 1972 and from 1981 to 1993, former Chairman of the Mount Wachusett Community College Advisory Board from 1968 to 1986, Chairman of the South Gardner Historical Society By-Law Committee in 1972 and its Legal Officer from 1976 to 2007, was a Republican Candidate for State Representative in 1982,1990,1992 and 1994, Member of the North Central Massachusetts Board of Baseball Officials from 1967 to 1992 and its Chairman in 1981, Commissioner for Girls Softball Officials in Worcester, Member of the Advisory Board of the Gardner Museum from 1978 to 1987 and its Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and was in charge of the annual Veterans Roundtable program, which he began in 2002. Additionally he was trustee of Heywood Hospital in 1981 and Clerk of the Corporation from 1984 to 1987.
Bob was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church in Gardner, where he was baptized on April 4,1949. He was Ordained as a Deacon for Life in 1966. Bob was Church Moderator from 1969 to 2006, taught High School Sunday School Class, was a member of the Committee for the Revision of Church Bylaws and worked to get pledges for "Our Shining Hour" Campaign for the building of the addition on the church, which was dedicated in October of 1969. Bob also served on the following boards, Trustees, Executive, Christian Education, Diaconate, Pastoral Relations, Missionary Committee, Nominating Committee and on several search committees. Over the years, he would preach the sermon on Layman's Sunday and also as a fill-in when the minister was ill. Bob was also a member of the Gideons and was the auctioneer at church auctions. He was honored by the church on May 20,2007 for his many contributions. That day was also proclaimed "Robert Hawke Sunday" by then Mayor Gerald St. Hilaire.
Bob served on the Gardner City Council in 2002 and 2003, was a Trustee of Baldwinville Nursing Home from 1999 to 2007, was an Incorporator of Henry Heywood Memorial Library from 1991 to the present and a Member of the Friend's of the Library, was a member of the Wachusett Mountain Advisory Council in 2000, was a trustee of the President Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation from 2000 to 2007, a member of the United Way of North Central Massachusetts Community Investment Division from 1999 to 2004 and was an Associate Member of the Gardner American Legion Post 129. Additionally, Bob was an active blood donor and Red Cross volunteer and was trustee of the Gardner Chapter of the American Red Cross from 1987 to 1992.
He played softball for various teams in the city leagues until 2006 and played hockey from the ponds to the rinks. At one time, he was a Babe Ruth League baseball coach and a youth hockey coach. In 1993, he received the Grange Community Citizen Award. He was listed among Who's Who in American Politics. Bob also formed the Hervey Bowden Scholarship Fund. He leaves his wife, Nancy M. (Moschetti) Hawke, whom he married on his 26th birthday July 20,1958; five children, Linda A. Scotland and her husband Greg of Royalston, Cyndi M. Leroy and her husband Tim of Winchendon, Heather E. Dube and her husband Tom of Winchendon, Dean W. Hawke and his wife Tammy of Winchendon and Gardner Mayor Mark P. Hawke and his wife Shelly of Gardner; four grandchildren, Merissa and Jacob Dube and Matthew and Justin Hawke and a great grandchild Madison Dube. Two brothers, Arthur Eugene Hawke, Jr. and Edwin Hawke, predeceased him.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 7th at 11 A.M. in the First Baptist Church, 14 High Street, Gardner. The Rev. James E. Hinds and the Rev. Dr. R. Gary Heikkilla will officiate.
Calling hours will be Friday, February 6th from 4 to 8 P.M. in the Snow-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon. Interment will be in Green Bower Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., PO Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD. 20871-1950.