Rob Gronkowski was always present at Benchmark Senior Living, thanks to one superfan who witnessed four Super Bowls while working for the organization. Program Director Lois Abramo unfailingly places her life-size cardboard cutout of Gronk in the main room any time the Patriots play, both for good luck and to remind her of the eight years she spent working for the team. The Norfolk resident and past season ticket holder worked at the Patriots Hall of Fame museum at Gillette Stadium from 2010 to last May. She coordinated field trips, provided tours and had the chance to meet many of the players. Many people, she said, don’t know the museum exists, though busloads of students on field trips come through the doors nearly every day. With a masters degree in education from Cambridge College, she once taught special education and math, along with working at Dean College as an academic coach. She took her skills to Patriot Place and made a name for herself guiding field trips, among other things. “It was really something I thought I could do with my degree,” she said. “I helped them at the museum establish some educational programs. ... There are buses of about 150 kids every day.” Half of the students work on math lessons using player stats and fake money to draft their own players and make logos for their team, while the other half tours the museum, she said. There were also science lessons that Abramo taught using Styrofoam to make helmets that might prevent concussions.
