A ceremony was held on November 14, 2025, in Fall River, Massachusetts, to dedicate a bench in honor of Herman Bombback. Lisa Borges, Commander of the American Legion Fall River Post 464, opened the event, acknowledging several key individuals including Mayor Paul Coogan, City Councilwoman Linda Pereira, Reverend Stinson, Laura Bombach, Bill and Paula Dearis, Darren Medeiros of the Park Commission, and Bob Giden. The ceremony featured an honor guard presenting colors, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Post Chaplain Andy Gdau, and opening and closing prayers by Reverend Stinson. Herman Bombback's family unveiled the memorial bench during the event. Speakers shared personal tributes to Herman Bombback. Coach Sha Travis recounted Herman's deep involvement in baseball, including founding the Autumn Baseball League and managing the American Legion baseball team for Post 464. Travis noted that the team, six years after Herman's passing, achieved a Mass State Championship, which they dedicated to him. Laura Bombach, Herman's wife, expressed gratitude to the organizers and highlighted Herman's role as a Justice of the Peace for Swansea and his unique ability to connect people, even performing a concert for hospital staff on his last day. City Councilwoman Linda Pereira praised Herman's dedication to veterans, his passion for sports and music, and his consistent positive demeanor, mentioning his passing on July 4th. Mayor Paul Coogan shared memories of Herman's athletic talent and his significant, positive impact on the Fall River community. The dedication concluded with a poignant closing ceremony, which included the release of doves by the family, the playing of 'Taps' by the Vietnam Veterans of Fall River Honor Guard, and a final prayer from Reverend Stinson. The bench serves as a lasting reminder of Herman Bombback's contributions and spirit.
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Council
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Thank you everyone, family and friends for taking the time to be here with us for our ceremony here today to honor Herman Bombback.
0:10Thank you honorable mayor Paul Coogan for making it out here as I heard you knew Herman well. Thank you, city councilwoman Linda Pereira, for everything from the write up for the program, working our requests through the parks department, and for being a part of our planning committee. This could not have happened without you.
0:34Thank you, Reverend Stinson, for your time and prayers.
0:39I understand you knew Herman, too.
0:42Thank you to Laura Bombach who guided us as she helped fine-tune everything that you guys are seeing here today.
0:52Oops.
0:54Thank you, Bill and Paula Dearis. and to the Vietnam veterans of Fall River. This event could not be so put together without your shared resources from the mic that I'm talking uh to you on to ensuring ensuring Herman finally gets the does he wanted for one of his band gigs.
1:15Thank you to the park commission, especially Darren Medeiros, who worked tirelessly to help our senior vice commander Bob Giden, who's also with the Vietnam uh veterans. I lost my place.
1:27Oh. To to make this bench dedication a reality.
1:32And lastly, thank you post 464 legionnaires and everyone on our bench committee, especially our senior vice commander who worked on this project for nine months. You all agree that supporting this project was worth investing in and as it brings us to this very moment.
1:54My name is Lisa Borges and I am currently serving as the American Legion Fall River Post um commander. I know who I am.
2:04So, if I have forgotten anybody, the gratitude we have for you and that everyone together makes a difference just like Commander Bombck taught us and how he lived his life. Let's get ready to begin the ceremony.
2:19You guys ready? Honor guard present colors.
2:25and salute two.
2:33Our post chaplain Andy Gdau will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. So I ask those of you with hats uncover and please remain uncovered for the opening prayer which follows. Andy, do you want to come up here?
2:50Flags to your left.
2:54I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
3:09Reverend, thank you.
3:18I invite you to join me in prayer.
3:24Lord of heaven and Lord of earth, we come this day to let raise up to you a great servant in our midst that we might honor him and that we might bring him a a little more manifest and to walk with us to walk with the those who will come to this place to will see the beauty of it and that we'll know that that one so great had been in their midst as Herman.
3:48Lord, we ask you that we know that that we do not labor alone. That we continue to lab work with him and with you to to all good things coming to pass, knowing that those that we love are not gone but just around the corner and that they walk with us every day. And so we we lift him up on this hour and in this day that in all this your love and your
4:14grace may reign over this place and and that the hospitality that this bench provides may be one in which his true spirit of service may continue to live on and it may be a place of remembrance for him and for you in all good things.
4:31We pray this in your name of of all that is holy. Amen.
4:36Amen.
4:37Thank you.
4:46Cover.
4:51Will the family please approach the bench and uh take a piece of the cloth when you are ready and you can unveil the bench. Thank you.
5:10Does anybody want to take a picture first? Take some pictures.
5:25Please stand and pose for your pictures.
5:42Well, it's time to reminisce a little bit and we have a few a few speakers.
5:48First up at bat is another person who shared in the love of baseball like Herman did, Coach Sha Travis.
6:03Good afternoon.
6:07When the forever American Legion Post 464 commander Lisa Borges requested that I say a few words today. At first I was hesitant because saying a few words, a few brief words about Herman Bombach and what he meant to the community and his family and friends was virtually impossible.
6:29As everyone knows, Herman was a jack of all trades, involved in so many different things and always kept on the go.
6:41That being said, to make this brief speech, I spent the past week reflecting on how I knew Herman and what he meant to me.
6:53I first got to know know Herman as the father of my best friend Jason over 40 years ago. Then as my coach, friend, and mentor.
7:05Someone I coached against. And I have a definitely a few stories about that, but I was told to make this brief, so I will try.
7:14Someone someone I had the opportunity to coach teams in the league. He founded the Autumn Baseball League.
7:23Then finally, six years ago, Herman asked me to manage the Forever Post 464 American Legion baseball team, the team which he founded and was the commander of the post.
7:44I took this with great pride, this opportunity, because I knew this was something Herman took great pride in as he was involved in the American Legion baseball program for over 35 years and coached many of the youths of Far River and was a mentor to them.
8:06This past summer, the Four River Post 464 American Legion team he founded captured the Mass State Championship.
8:21This was the first time in 35 years a team from Far River accomplished this.
8:28My only disappointment was Herman was no longer with us.
8:35to share in the success of a program that he created.
8:42I spent many days and nights prior to Herming passing over six years constantly talking baseball with him, learning from him, and trying to grow the program.
8:56Along the way to the state championship, he was always on my mind as there were many obstacles to overcome. I believe he was our guardian angel.
9:08He helped us overcome the obstacles.
9:12We dedicated our state championship to Herman Bombck.
9:18As I close and we memorialize him today, I ask you to take some time over the next few days, reflect on how you knew Herman Bombck and what he meant to you. Herman had so many different friends. He never gave up on his friends from the past. You know, he kept in contact with everyone. I would go over to his American Legion club and so many different friends, so many different people
9:53as I not as I know how proud he would be today as we recognize him for everything he has done for our community. Thank you, Herman, and God bless.
10:10Once again, oops. Once again, thank you all. Like we said, Herman's brought us all together. And now, uh, Mrs. Bombck,
10:28this is not for the video. You're fine.
10:36They pick it up.
10:42I can open this.
10:50Okay.
10:54On behalf of our family, we would like to thank everyone who had a part in making this honor to Herman a reality.
11:00Without them, we wouldn't be here today.
11:03They are Lisa Borgis, Fall River Post 464 Commander. Bob Gynan, Post464 senior vice commander. Linda Pereira, Fall River City Council Woman, Bill and Paul Dearis for the generous donation of the name plates on that bench, the beautiful doves that are going to be released and being responsible for the presence of the Vietnam Veterans of Fall River honor guard. also the Fall River Parks
11:34Commission for installing the bench.
11:39This bench is truly a fitting tribute to Herman. He was a person who loved to make things happen and he could gather people together like no one else. He had a gift of talking to everyone in a way that that left you with the sense he was your best friend and wanted nothing more than to be present with you.
12:01So, what better than a park bench that symbolizes a place to sit and chat.
12:09You no doubt know of his involvement uh whether it be in the community, whether it be the veterans or baseball or music.
12:20But I want to mention a couple of things about Herman not everyone is aware of.
12:25He was very proud to be appointed a justice of the peace for the town of Swansea. Again, a position that allowed him to bring people together.
12:37I recall being in the ER with him and he was very sick. But of course, he struck up a conversation with the paramedic that brought him in and found out that he was getting married. So he looked at me, he winked and he smiled and with that twinkle he always had in his eye. He offered his services to that young man.
13:04He was always looking for the opportunity.
13:07Some of you here today were married by him and you know he put his all in making your ceremony special.
13:17And one other event, not well known, but illustrates his need to gather people together.
13:25On his very last day in the hospital, he wanted to thank the staff before he was discharged.
13:33He got permission to give a little concert in his room.
13:37Who does that? Okay, he does.
13:42He had just found out that he only had about two months left to live, but he went on with it anyway.
13:49So he and his friend Wally Bon Levich, they had a little duo called appropriately Aches and Pains.
13:59And with their guitars, keyboard, speakers, and microphones, they sang and played for the nurses, patients, and doctors, and they took requests.
14:12It happened to be his very last gig.
14:17As you can imagine, he was a favorite among the hospital staff, and I'm sure it's something that they will never forget.
14:25[snorts] I want to thank you all for being here today because I am sure in some way he touched your life. Thank you.
14:48Thank you, Laura. Our next speaker is our city councelor, Linda Pereira.
14:55Thank you. Um, and thank you to the American Legions for asking me to speak here today. I've known Herman for a long time. He never forgot his time in the military and dedicated his life to serving veterans. His passion for baseball and football were unmatched. He coached and managed countless leagues, inspiring our youth and giving adults a way to stay active and connected through the game he loved. Herman's love of
15:26music was just as strong. You could always see the joy on his face when he was playing his bass guitar. Every note reflected his spirit and enthusiasm for life. But to me, Herman was the kind of person who always had a smile on his face, no matter how busy he was. You could always count on him to lend a hand to someone who needed help.
15:54To his to his beloved wife, Dr. Laura, his children, Tracy, Jason, and Lucas, his five grandchildren, his brother and sister, Mark, and You must be so proud of all that Herman accomplished.
16:09and so deeply saddened by his loss, especially that his passing was on the 4th of July.
16:17Herman may have left us far too soon, but in his years, he touched the lives of so many people. I can just imagine him now in heaven, organizing a veterans group, putting together a baseball team, and of course, playing his guitar for the Angels.
16:40Rest in peace, my friend. Your spirit will live in every song, every game, and every heart you've inspired. God bless you all.
16:56Thank you, Linda. Um, and Mayor uh Paul Coogan, would you like to say a few words?
17:01Sure.
17:02Thank you, sir.
17:04Um, first I want to thank everybody for coming out to honor a truly special person in Fall River. Uh, I've known the Bombbacks as long as I've been in Fall River. I see Mark in the front there. Um, I can honestly I'm one of the few people here that uh when Herman was running wide right in football, he ran over me like one of those leaves you see on the ground. He
17:26was a very, very, very great athlete.
17:28Uh, and Mark was also and Laura, we hung around at Rugles Park together when we were 16 and she was always so much better than all the rest of us and she ended up with a great great guy because uh, she did very well herself and Herman was very, very special. You have to know that if you didn't get to know him personally, he was really something special. His attitude, the way he
17:49carried himself, and the way he did so many positive things for the uh community. We're going to miss him. I genuinely love the guys. And I did know the Bombbacks my whole life. They were great people, and they were a lot a lot of fun. Thank you.
18:05Thank you, Mayor.
18:10It has it has been a pleasure to be here with you all this afternoon to share some time to honor such a great person who has brought us all together. This bench is here to remind us of someone who gave so much to the community and inspires us to be more just like he was.
18:30We will now begin the closing of our ceremony with releasing of doves. Thank you, Bill Dearis.
18:38And taps provided by the Vietnam Veterans of the Fall River Honor Guard.
18:42And end with a prayer from the Reverend.
18:44Can the family please walk towards the doves?
19:07Honor God present colors.
19:11White doves are symbols of love, hope, and peace.
19:15That's all we've always felt for Herman.
19:19As the doves fly to the skies above, please send upon their wings your own special message for Herman. You may release.
19:33Oh my goodness.
20:35Gracious God, as we depart this place, we ask that your blessing go with that your love may be upon us and that the love that we have borne witness to in this life that that we've memorialized here that this memorial as it stands that this bench that will provide hospitality for the days ahead that may it do its work and let us do ours. May we live well a little more
21:02like Herman and may we carry him with us. May that as he labors with you and with us, let us labor for the good and the true and the beautiful things that he brought into this world in all of the different ways that he did. And so too, we and he and you labor together for the for the goodness and the graciousness and the wonder of this world that we
21:25have been given. And that we may live well with his example and with his presence with us until that day, till we should see one another. face to face. We pray this and that we may know your blessing. Amen.
21:40Amen.