Acton Boxborough Colonial Club
Robert Caldwell
It is with great pride and appreciation that the AB Colonial Club inducts legendary hockey coach and mentor Bob Caldwell into the AB Hall of Fame. It is increasingly unusual that an individual sacrifices his/her time and energy to passionately give to others in a sport that they love so well.
Bob Caldwell is revered in hockey circles throughout the state of Massachusetts and nationally. In 1996, Bob was the USA Hockey National Recipient of the William Thayer Tutt Award. This is USA hockey's most prestigious award given to a volunteer who has displayed so many years of service with a selfless dedication to the enhancement of ice hockey at the grass roots level in the United States. That same year, Bob was inducted into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame. Bob was the first individual inductee. To quote former NHL player Jeff Norton, "I don't remember all of the coaches I've had, but I will never forget Mr. Caldwell. He was the person that made me feel great about myself."
It was Bob Caldwell who started the AB Youth Hockey Program. The program has gone on to produce countless high school, college, Olympic and professional hockey players. To Coach Caldwell, it was not what level you reached in the sport that mattered, it was your level of commitment, effort and love of the sport.
A proud Arlington High School Spyponder graduate in 1948, Bob resided for many years in Acton with his wife Joan. They have 5 children - Cynthia, Robert, Wayne, Laura and Joanne.
Bob, we salute your life as a mentor, coach, father, confessor and hockey guru to the student athletes of Acton-Boxborough.