Anyone who has lived in Winthrop for a while, especially residents of Point Shirley who have participated in the annual Horribles Parade, knows the name Peter Gobiel and how much he has contributed to the betterment of our community through the years.
We therefore join with many of our fellow residents in congratulating our new Superintendent of Schools John Macero for appointing Peter as the new Director of Athletics and Physical Education and Health for the Winthrop school system, a post in which he also will serve as the transportation coordinator for the schools and the athletic teams.
Pete brings a wealth of experience to this prestigious position as the leader of the high school athletic program. He has been a coach of the Viking gymnastic and track teams and is an athlete himself, having competed in high school and college gymnastics. In addition, Pete has a been teacher in the school system for 31 years. (Goodness, has it really been that long?).
As a lifelong Viking athlete, coach, and fan, Peter knows better than anybody how difficult, and yet rewarding, it can be for Winthrop to field competitive athletic teams, even though it is the smallest school in the Northeastern Conference.
Pete Gobiel is poised to lead the athletic program to even greater heights. He has listed the renovation of Winthrop’s athletic facilities such as Miller Field (the football field, the track, and the complex itself) and the WHS gymnasium as top priorities in his administration of the athletic program. Winthrop is a town with first-class youth sports programs and high school teams and the facilities should equal the excellence of our teams.
Pete Gobiel was born at Winthrop Hospital. He has lived here and raised his own family here. He is excited to be the new director of athletics at his alma mater. He knows personally the thrills that Winthrop athletes such as Mike Eruzione, Chris Tsiotos, Joe Giaquinto, Steve Staffier, John Tiano, Chuck Sullivan, Maureen McManus, Lisa Monteleone, Lisa Gill, Matt Murray, Anthony and James Fucillo, Courtney and Kristen Finn, Jake Connors, Nicole Giaquinto and the most recent state champion boys basketball team have brought to this town and its residents.
We wish Peter Gobiel all the best as he joins John Macero as a new leader in the Winthrop school system. In a town with an illustrious athletic history, it may be possible that even more superlative achievements by our student/athletes are on the horizon.