By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – The photo of this mounted firefighter axe was taken inside the classroom space of the Shrewsbury Fire Headquarters at 11 Church Road. The decorative plaque was placed there in honor of former Shrewsbury Fire Chief Robert L. Gaucher, who died in 2010. Gaucher served the town of Shrewsbury from 1976 until the year of his passing. The classroom is now dedicated to Gaucher's memory.
According to the Shrewsbury 2010 Annual Town Report, Gaucher was fire captain for 20 of the nearly 34 years he served the department, and he was appointed chief in 2008. A paragraph in the report reveals how highly regarded Gaucher remains in the hearts of many. It reads:
“Chief Gaucher will be warmly remembered as a good family man, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Known around the fire department for his work ethic and discipline, he served as leader, mentor and good friend to many of us who knew him over the years. On a lighter and more personal note, we will never forget his deadpan sense of humor and childlike fondness for animals. Bob, Bobby, Robert and Chief; you are sadly missed by family and friends, rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family.”
In the Shrewsbury 2008 Annual Town Report in which Gaucher authored the Fire Department section, there was no mention of his rise to chief. Instead, he spotlighted the achievements of Gerald F. LaFlamme, who retired that year from the top position. Gaucher's approach to his new position was simply revealed in the closing statement of his report:? “We, along with other town departments, are facing budgetary shortages, but I am confident that we can work through these challenges and continue to provide the townspeople with the highest quality of service.”
Of Historical Note is a monthly segment of the Community Advocate that features a hidden or well-known landmark from one of our newspaper's six communities.