By J.M. Lawrence Globe Correspondent
Boston, November 4, 2009 --
Robert M. Coard, a charismatic immigrant from Grenada who united Bostonians from every neighborhood and many backgrounds during 40 years as president and chief executive of the antipoverty agency Action for Boston Community Development, died yesterday at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale. The longtime Boston resident was 82.
Mr. Coard, who suffered from heart disease, had officially retired Sunday, after 45 years with ABCD.
He was too ill to attend a retirement tribute held in his honor Friday night at the Copley Marriott during ABCD’s annual dinner.
About 1,500 people, including Governor Deval Patrick, attended and saw a 10-minute film featuring scenes of Mr. Coard’s decades spent fighting for social justice and education as paths out of poverty.
The soundtrack to the short film included “Lean On Me.’’ Friends said the Bill Withers song captured Mr. Coard’s passionate devotion to helping people in hard times find their way
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