Community Corner
Meet A 71 Year Hamilton Resident Who Puts Out Lobster Traps Each Summer
Meet Warren "Bob" Gray, a Hamilton native who counts putting out a few lobster traps each summer as one of his hobbies.
Name: Warren Robert Gray, Jr. I go by Bob (my middle name). It was confusing to have two Warrens in the house growing up so my parents decided to have me go by my middle name.
Street: Bay Road, Hamilton
Family: Wife, Shirley; Two boys, Bob, III, age 51, lives in Vermont with no kids and single. Mark, age 49, lives in Singapore, his wife Mari lives in Amherst, Mass. with their two kids (my grandchildren) Taylor, age 15 and Lydia, age 13.
Occupation: Retired now, but I have had several interesting jobs in my career. Worked at United Shoe Machinery, worked in supermarkets, owned a True Value hardware store, managed a big box home center, owned a small contracting company, to name a few.
Hobbies/interests: Lobstering (put out about six lobster traps each summer into Ipswich Bay), vegetable gardening and local politics.
What are you passionate about? Since retiring I try to keep up to date on local politics, town government and school budget issues.
What did you study in school? Went to Burdett College in Lynn and Boston to study accounting.
Are you utilizing this subject now? Not for a career, but used it extensively running several businesses.
Best book: Recently - Robert Parker's "Trouble in Paradise"
Best movie: "Mr. Holland’s Opus" with Richard Dreyfus
Dream vacation: Thailand, on the island of Phuket
Favorite tradition? Fondue on Christmas Eve with all the family
What obstacle have you overcome? I’ve been deaf in one ear since early childhood, making social and learning environments very challenging.
What have you done in your life that makes you proud? The challenge of raising a family and having them turn out successful and socially adjusted in today’s world would make anyone proud. Guess I’ve done that.
How long have you lived in Hamilton-Wenham? Born and brought up here - 71 years.
Why did you chose Hamilton-Wenham? It chose me.
What is your favorite place in Hamilton-Wenham? and .
What is your favorite shop? Henderson’s and .
What is a fact about you that most don’t know? I have a lot of handyman skills such as painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. All learned from owning a 200-year-old house.
Where would someone see you around town? Henderson’s coffee shop or out in my back yard gardening.
Which local services and programs do you support? I think we have a great school system but we need to have it run more efficiently. I think the SMART (trash) program will be a good program once some of the bugs are worked out and people get adjusted to it. I think the that the towns have developed in many years but the has to get totally on board for it to be successful.
