The Boy From Worcester

About the Book

Worcester is the second largest city in the state of Massachusetts and was an industrial mill town—which made it the home to numerous mills, factories, three-deckers, and immigrants from different countries. Located in the central part of the state, this city thrives in harmony with its people where some of them are famous athletes, poets, actors, politicians and inventors. In this city, author Robert Pitchman was born and in his book, The Boy From Worcester, he honestly and unflinchingly relates his journey through life and survival. In this book, Pitchman reveals the story of his life with no holds barred. He is Worcester-born who, due to circumstances beyond his control and being an only child, was forced to survive on his own. At the age of six years old, his parents got divorced, which eventually led him to live in an orphanage just outside Worcester. When he was 15 years old, he went back to live with his mother and to survive by his own wits. In this city, he witnessed the various phases of development through the mills, factories, different enterprises, and cultural diversity—including the segregation that was apparent during that time. He had seen the city’s historical evolution, the success and fame of many individuals in various fields, and the invention of many useful things that are relevant to the world. This book is not an ordinary recounting of the author’s life of struggles growing up, it also highlights the people and culture of Worcester’s people, their unique norms and practices, the social interaction, and the numerous occurrences that help Pitchman shape his life. This was the city where he grew up, and became a man. Worcester is the city he loved, and, this is his story.

About the Author

ROBERT PITCHMAN was born on April 16, 1946 in Worcester, Massachusetts to poor parents who divorced when he was just six years old. Due to the absence of his father and his mother going into a mental institution, for several years he lived in an orphanage in Leicester, Massachusetts, just outside of Worcester. He lived in foster homes, ran away and when he was fi fteen years old he went back to live with his mother. From that point on, he was on his own. Robert has no more than a sixth grade education and is for the most part, illiterate. This book is Robert’s dream of telling his story about growing up in Worcester, the city he loved and is a major accomplishment for him by sharing his unbelievable story.