John Monfredo: Ted Coghlin: A Dynamic and Caring Hero Who Will Be Missed!

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER

During this holiday season we mourn the passing of Edwin B. “Ted” Coghlin, Jr., former CEO of Coghlin Electric.  He was a great leader and an individual  who did so much for the Worcester County Community. Those who worked or associated with Ted would tell you about his great work ethics, his integrity and his legacy of getting things done the right way.  His life of service to others was extraordinary, for he was a man with remarkable vision, lots of energy and the tenacity to never give up.

Ted will be remembered for many, many projects and for serving on numerous community committees in his lifetime. He had received a number of community awards such as the Isaiah Thomas Award, The Harry G. Stoddard Award for community service, numerous Boy Scout awards for his commitment to the program, and WPI Humanitarian Award, to name a few  He was delighted with them  I’m sure, but was more concerned about what needed to get done next in the community.

A Personal Account

I remember him for his vision for vocational education in this city. In an interview back in 2008 about  WTHS  tremendous growth on the MCAS scores,  he spoke to me about Worcester Technical High School and the need for a strong vocational education program that would lead to jobs and the need for better trained workers for the business sector.

In just a few short years since the school opened students at WTHS were succeeding, going on to post secondary schools and were having an impact on the job market. The mission of the school was to educate, prepare the students academically and technically and to meet the challenges of the global society. Key to the success of the school was the assistance from the community. It had been ongoing since the school was in the planning stages. Ted Coghlin Jr., chairman of the Worcester Vocational Schools Advisory Board, president of the Skyline Technical Fund and owner of Coghlin Electric Contractors Inc., has been a driving force for the school. He became the “Godfather” of Worcester Technical High School.

Ted enthusiastically stated, “Technology and training needs by area companies demand that our students – their future employees - have the best training using the most advanced technology available.”  Thus the Skyline Technical Fund was formed by him. This fund created accounts designed to purchase and maintain updated equipment and continues to this day to bring in the needed revenue to assist the various departments.    Thanks to the work being done by Mr. Coghlin, a strong partner at the school continues to exist and as we all know the school has been in the national limelight for its success.

More than 50% of the twenty-five departments have a business partner and these Industry partners have provided leadership and expertise in developing a curriculum in their specific industry thus, giving the students a real-internship program before graduating.

Worcester Technical High School

Then in 2009, Worcester Technical High School celebrated the 100th anniversary of the school that originally opened its doors to 52 student woodworkers and ironworkers as Worcester Boys Trade. Ted pointed out to me that the school was the first vocational school in Massachusetts and one of the first in the United States.   

No matter what the event was he was there at the high school to support the school and bask in the awards given to WTHS.  I remember seeing him on stage with General Collin Powell as the school accepted the Blue Ribbon Award, at all of the motivational speaker events held at the Hanover Theatre and at last year’s WTHS graduation when President Obama in his speech praised his community service work.    Yet, it was never about the recognition but all about getting things done in this community.

He was a man who never stood still and will be remembered for his kind smile and his leadership in this community.  As our City Manager, Edward Augustus acknowledged, “Ted Coghlin was one of Worcester’s true heroes…the kind of businessman, philanthropist, and community leader that sets the standards for the rest of us to try and follow.  Nearly every important cause or effort in the city owes a debt of gratitude to Ted Coghlin.”

He will be missed!

E-mail me at [email protected].

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