Bob Monaghan

Written by Jeffrey Keller

Robert Monaghan passed away at home in West Bridgewater, this past Sunday, March 2nd.  He died in his sleep listening to music.  He was 71 years old. 

Bob was such a wonderful guy.  He joined MSSW around early 2014.  Working at South Shore Bearing in Quincy during the day.   There was almost no metal part that Bob couldn’t make or fix.  His shop in Rockland was crammed full of ancient machinery including several metal lathes in addition to his wood lathe, six drill presses, milling machines, automatic sawing machines, a car lift and much much more. 

Bob was always there for club functions and was especially popular at the summer picnic with a load of fresh lobster from his brother .  When we had presentations at the Natural Science center, Cohasset Fathers day weekend, the Maple festival, etc., Bob was there and he was proficient at turning tops for kids.  He would help members with metal needs as well as becoming a prolific turner.

Michael Waddell:
I was saddened to hear of Bob Monaghan’s passing. He was such an interesting and quiet person who I got to know better during one event at the Marshfield Fair. I turned a colored Christmas tree for a little girl, Hunter, who was the daughter of his neighbor. She was thrilled, and I know she was very special to Bob. He and I talked about that event ever since. Besides providing lobsters, Bob was a giving, caring person and I will miss him.

Joe Centorino:
Shortly after I joined MSSW and was learning my way around lathes and turning I needed to have a chuck wrench modified and was looking for someone who could make the necessary changes. Several members directed me to Bob. When I asked him he welcomed me to his shop one evening and as he went to work we began talking as I looked at his accumulated array of equipment in various stages of rebuild and repair. After a few minutes it became clear that we had met before, probably in 1960 when we both attended elementary school in Braintree. Neither Bob nor I could remember each other from those days yet we did recall the same fellow classmates and teachers. Bob and I also attended Blue Hills Regional Vo-Tech although for different disciplines. We talked about the “old days” and commiserated about how many times our paths crossed over the years. Bob was a gentle soul with a big heart, always willing to help wherever he could and was a fixture at the Annual Marshfield Fair, welcoming his friends and family to stop by and spend time with the Woodturners and cooking up something delicious for the Thursday night pot-luck at the Blacksmith shed.