Bob was also a member of the South Woodstock Baptist Church. He was also a member of numerous automobile organizations and won many awards, including, in 2000, a cruise on the Baltic Sea. He recently celebrated 50 years as a Master Mason and was a former member of the Putnam Rotary Club. Bob's "you can't have enough of" list included: Orange juice, sneakers, ice cream, peanut butter, the color maroon, cardinals and bird feeders, building and boat and vehicle projects (including "On Golden Pond" building projects with his grandson Joe), light house statues, maps/globes, "straight & level" on projects, tape measures, flashlights, stars (the windows of heaven), talk radio, talking backwards, a group sing of "The 12 Days of Christmas" at the dealership Christmas party every year, without fail, and "the road"/RV camping. He always gave someone a chance, giving people the start they needed when no one else would hire them. At Woodstock Piano & Music, he often donated organs and pianos to churches or would give a piano to someone in need. He was a friend to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Many may not know how generous he was because he was understated about that. They enjoyed the lake all four seasons from 1962 to 1977-78. Bob first built a cottage on Rattlesnake Island and then on Sleeper Island. He, like the others in a group of Boston area friends, spent most summer weekends at the lake, building their cottages on the lake. His favorite place was Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. He was famous for "ask forgiveness, not permission" so no surprise, he once landed his plane on the ice at Webster Lake. It's joy." Full of life and drive, he worked hard, often working on the side, too. The joyful differences he said were that there were "no oil pans and people don't walk in the door cringing about a car salesperson. Next up: Woodstock Piano & Music from 2004 to 2014. No one thought he'd retire when he sold the dealership (the official name of the party given for him after he sold the dealership was "The Surprise Non-Retirement Party". He was beyond proud of this accomplishment. At one time he was a "six pack" dealership, selling Chrysler, Jeep, American Motors, Dodge, Eagle and Ram trucks. 44 in East Putnam 10-fold from the former tiny cinderblock garage to a Five Star Chrysler dealership. By the time he sold it in 2003, Bob, always the builder, had expanded Gomes Total Chrysler on Rt. Ernie Boch Sr., one of his mentors, advised Bob when he bought the former Cormier Chrysler in Putnam in 1984. He worked his way up to general manager of Boch's Mitsubishi store. He also worked at Lawless Chevy in Canton, Mass., a Renault dealership in Norwood, Mass., Allen Chevrolet in Dedham, Mass., and the Boch organization on the "Auto Mile," (Rt. He started as a service tech at Seavey's in Boston. Period." His career choice was perfect given his eastern Massachusetts accent he was in the "cah" business. He hid the car at Ben's until, as Bob tells the story, his father told his mother, "Bobby bought it and he's bringing it over here. Against his mother's wishes, headstrong Bob paid $35 for his first car, a black 1936 Chevy that he painted blue. A gifted mechanic and musician, he started his career in cars at 15, working at Ben's garage across from the family home in Dedham. In his young adult years he won trophies in roller (skate) couples dance competitions. He was a graduate of Dedham High School, Class of 1953. He was born February 13, 1936, at home in Somerville, Mass., third son of Sarah (Bishop) Gomes and Alfred E. Robert Louis Gomes 1936 - 2022 PUTNAM - Robert "Bob" Louis Gomes, 85, of Webster Lake, Mass., and Putnam, died Sunday, January 9, 2022, after a long illness.
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