LYNN — After 19 years of creating a family-centered after school program, Executive Director Obie Barker bid an emotional farewell to the Boys & Girls Club.
A few weeks ago, Robert “Obie” Barker announced his retirement from the Lynn club that played an important role in his life for almost two decades. The retiree dedicated his time to rebuilding the antiquated facility to ensure their young members had the best after-school educational help they could get.
“A lot of our kids come from homes where English isn’t the primary language so when the school bell rings to end the day, so does their educational support,” said Barker. “Over the years, we’ve accomplished a lot in the sense of really focusing on having our kids be prepared for tomorrow.”
Barker was a Boys & Girls Club member from age 7 all the way through high school in his hometown of Concord, N.H. To help pay the way through studying electrical engineering at the University of New Hampshire, Barker began working part-time at the club that got him through his childhood. After owning his own electrical business for about 2½ years, Barker became the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Concord at 25, making him the youngest one in the country.
“I looked at the club and everything it did for me as a kid,” he said. “I was the prototypical Boys & Girls Club member, coming from a single (parent) home that didn’t have a lot of money.”
In his first few years there, he helped put together a five-year plan to start a capital campaign that would pay to build a new facility. Almost 18 months into his long-range plan, Barker and his Concord staff raised $1.2 million for the new building.
“I spent 18 years in Concord, built a brand new facility, built a teen center and just got to a point in my life where I became stagnant,” said Barker. “I felt I took them as far as I could go and it was time for me to move on.”
After leaving the position at his hometown club, Barker thought he would start up electrical work again but he couldn’t seem to say goodbye to the after-school program. The father of three spent two months consulting for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America before more executive director opportunities came to light.
“There were job openings in Lynn, Woburn, Newton, and Cape Cod and I interviewed at all four of them and got offered a job by each,” he said. “When I interviewed in Lynn there was just something about the building, and even though it was very old, I felt this sense of warmth when I first walked in. So when I went home that night I told my wife that I was going to end up here.”
Since 1999, the executive director of the Lynn facility, which holds between 350 and 450 children a day, has compiled a list of accomplishments. Membership has just about doubled during his tenure for both the after school program and Camp Creighton, the club’s summer day camp located in Middleton. Barker also facilitated the teen program that is now a predominant part of the after-school program.
“Kendra Nagy’s been my No. 2 for the last 19 years and I couldn’t have asked for a better one and I know my decision to resign has definitely been tough and emotional for her, too,” said Barker. “My only regret is that I couldn’t help complete the building campaign and they’re about a million dollars away from that, which I know they’ll get.”
Instead of sending out a blanket email, Barker announced his retirement by visiting each board and staff member to let them know in person because, according to him, he felt he owed it to each of them. The emotions behind his departure didn’t hit him until he came back from a meeting at the State House in Boston a few weeks ago where there was a surprise party waiting for him at the club with 300 kids wearing t-shirts with his face on them.
Barker’s retirement hits close to home for a few staff members who have been with him for a number of years, including his second son Paul, the club’s program director. The Lynn club’s education director, Robert Kennedy, started working for Barker as a summer camp counselor more than 12 years ago. The club’s family atmosphere is what inspired Kennedy to join his staff as a full-time employee seven years ago.
“The biggest thing about Obie is he does so many things that people don’t even realize, like fixing things around the club himself,” said Kennedy. “When he’s not here some days his presence is missed immediately because he has created such a great family atmosphere for both the kids and the staff.”
Another staff member followed the same path as Barker, going from club member to staff member. Michael Anaya was 12 when he became a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn and met Barker. Now he’s a college student working part-time to mentor kids in the same building he called a safe haven at their age.
“I didn’t want to believe it at first when he told us he was leaving because I thought it was too soon, so it hit me pretty hard,” said Anaya. “To the next director, I just have to wish them good luck on trying to do what Obie has done, but hopefully whoever it is will continue to keep his legacy going and keep the club’s family atmosphere alive.”
Knowing that the Lynn club has some big shoes to fill, Barker has promised to continue writing the club’s grants through the end of the year. His last day on the job was Wednesday, March 28 where he left behind a piece of his legacy in an operations manual he made to be read by the one chosen to take his place.
“My only advice for whoever the gets the job is to make sure they put the compassion of the kids first,” said Barker. “Anybody can be a boss, but a leader needs to understand and embrace the community in helping them to move forward.”