“This town put a tattoo on me that has a lot to do with who I became.” That was the sentiment of former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, speaking Sunday about growing up in Needham at the unveiling of a mural in his honor in the town center.
It was the latest installment of the “From Needham to the World” mural, one of more than 40 public-space projects by the Needham Community Revitalization Trust Fund. The mural series highlights residents who have made an impact beyond Needham.
NCRTF chair Paul Good hosted the unveiling, acknowledging Baker as someone who focused on ideas, and was a Republican in a largely Democratic state who earned the rating of nation’s most popular governor. “Not a bad thing for a Needham kid who just was playing some basketball and connected with social studies teachers and created a career that has been a contribution for us all,” said Good.
Baker served two terms as governor from 2015-2023 and is now president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He spoke fondly of his years in Needham.
“It was a great town to grow up in,” he said. “You could find people, adults, who were interested in you and whatever it was you were interested in, almost no matter where that went or what direction it went in.”
Baker shared stories with residents who gathered on Chapel Street for the unveiling. He recalled the many town activities he enjoyed, from the Blue Tree lighting to the Fourth of July parade. “I was part of a group that used to make floats every year … that was a ton of work.” There were trips to Bergson’s for ice cream after Little League games, and he worked as an usher at the Needham Theatre. “I think I saw ‘The Sting’ 110 times.” He also pumped gas on Fridays after school at the Mobil station. “Everybody would come by and they would buy $3 worth of gas from me and find out from me what everybody else was up to.”
When asked why his Needham High School graduating class produced two governors — the other is Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey — Baker credited teachers.
“Teachers at every single level. I know all those people’s names and I remember them.” He said he was influenced by social studies teachers at Pollard Middle School and recalled how Jack O’Donnell, who taught the American presidency at Needham High School, expected students to be prepared. “He would just call on you, no raising your hand.” Rebecca Perry, for whom Perry Park is named, made an impression on him when he attended the former Harris School. “Ms. Perry, she was terrifying … she was awesome.”
The mural highlights Baker’s high school and college basketball careers as well as family life with his parents and two brothers on Coolidge Avenue and later Cleveland Road. “My mom and dad were amazing. My mom was a Democrat, my dad was a Republican. Friends used to like to come to Sunday dinner at our house just to watch the show,” he said.
Baker was governor during the first Trump administration, and when asked about his outlook for the new presidency he said, “In the end for democracy to really work the way it’s supposed to, you need to think about it as a ‘we’ collectively. And I do worry that the separation that’s taking place, it’s going to be challenging to be put back together.” But he noted that his work with young people in the NCAA gives him hope.
“I just love the kids. They make me feel much better about everything,” he said. “I tell them all the time that I feel much better about the future of the country based on the conversations and the time that I spend with them. Which, in this day and age in particular, for a guy who left government in part because I just couldn’t stand the noise anymore, that’s actually been a really positive thing for me.”
Baker thanked Good and the CRTF for the hometown recognition. “My experience in this town was incredibly vivid and unusually meaningful, and for the most part enormously positive,” said Baker. “The present is very much built on the past. And the past for us was pretty great.”
The mural was created by graphic designer Seymour Levy and will be on exhibit until February. More information is available at Needham Community Revitalization Trust Fund.
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