Mission

To honor the memory of Bob Bigelow, who passed away unexpectedly in August 2020, the WBA and the members of the Bob Bigelow Memorial Fund committee made a commitment to recognize Bob's contributions to our community and to preserve his legacy.

Thanks to the generosity of Bob's friends, family, and members of the basketball community in Winchester and around the world, we achieved our goals of raising funds for the purpose of making physical improvements to the outdoor courts at Manchester Field, endowing a permanent scholarship in Bob’s name for Winchester High School graduates, and creating a memorial in his honor.

On Saturday, June 11th at 10 a.m., members of the Bigelow family, friends, neighbors, and former teammates gathered at the Manchester courts to remember Bob and to officially open the renovated facilities in a public ceremony.

The renovations at the Manchester courts include:

• New glass boards and breakaway rims
• Resealing and repainting of the courts
• Concrete pad and shade structure
• Commemorative plaque located near the courts

In addition, through the WBA's partnership with the Winchester Scholarship Foundation (WSF), a scholarship fund has been endowed in Bob's name for the purpose of awarding needs-based scholarships to eligible Winchester High School (WHS) graduates who played basketball for  WHS or the WBA (or both). Future contributions made to the WBA via this page (see below) will be added to the WSF's endowed scholarship fund in Bob's name.

It is fitting that we preserved Bob’s legacy at the Manchester courts. As a lifelong resident of Winchester and an extraordinary contributor to the community, Bob Bigelow spearheaded the planning, fundraising, and restoration of these courts approximately 20 years ago.

Of course, many people also know Bob through his accomplishments on the basketball court at Winchester High School, the University of Pennsylvania where he starred for the great Chuck Daly, and as a first round NBA draft choice. Yet Bob’s contributions to the sport of basketball and youth sports may run even deeper.

Through his work with thousands and thousands of young athletes, coaches and parents, Bob guided and influenced generations of people in Winchester, New England, and around the globe. Among his many achievements, Bob conducted more than 2500 clinics worldwide, he founded the WBA (more than 30 years ago), he led a tobacco education campaign for teenagers, and wrote the ground-breaking book Just Let the Kids Play, which offers his unique perspective and critique on youth sports. As such, Bob’s service provides a living and enduring legacy.

Finally, we are grateful to the Town of Winchester, including members of the Select Board, the School Committee, the Department of Public Works, the Recreation Department, and the Conservation Committee for their support.

July 18, 2022