Meet Rob “Fury” Billings
Enjoy our new segment in the Weekly Grind so you can meet and learn more about our fighters! This week, meet Rob “Fury” Billings!
- When were you diagnosed with Parkinson’s?
One day in the spring of 2017 my family and I were getting the greenhouse ready for our spring plant sale when my daughter, Laura, noticed I wasn’t swinging my left arm as I was walking. So I made an appointment with my sleep apnea doctor because she was a neurologist. She put me through the motions that you all know and love, LOL, and said it looks like you have Parkinson’s. Wow another obstacle to deal with.
- When did you start coming to 110 Fitness?
When I was at that first doctor visit in 2017 I spotted the Rock Steady Boxing flyer, took it home and really didn’t study it in detail until my girlfriend, Karen, who was working at South Shore Rehab at the time, was talking to someone there that had heard about Rock Steady Boxing and 110 Fitness. Karen called my daughter Rose and told her the story. Rose being Rose immediately called 110 and told me I had an appointment with Brett. My first day was May 4th 2018. Since then I have lost 45lbs and have improved my blood levels, blood pressure and strength and conditioning.
- What’s your favorite class or activity at 110?
When I started at 110 I jumped in with both feet, Monday Spin, BOXH2O (before it was BOXH2O) even some nights Rock Steady Boxing, Tuesday Rock Steady Boxing, Wednesday Spin, BoxH2O, Thursday Rock Steady Boxing, did Boxing on Saturday but switched to Friday Urban Walking with Poles for 2 miles then Spin Class. (Note; more of you should come Friday for the walking with the poles!) (I was told because I jumped in with both feet that is why I got the boxer name Fury). Now, I really enjoy the advanced Mitt Class because it is a challenge to incorporate the foot work with the combinations.
- What do(did) you do for work?
I graduated in 1971 from South Shore Vocational Technical High School, top student of the machining shop. I started full time work at an old shop that made parts for machines that processed cotton. I stayed there for a year and then changed jobs to another shop that had more advanced machine tools using Numerical Controls (NC Computers). At that job I learned how to program the milling machines. They used a paper or Mylar tape with coded holes to move the machine table to accurate distances of within .001 of an inch. Over the next ten years computers and machine tools evolved to be more accurate to .0001 on an inch. In 1984 I was working days at my current job and part time nights at another shop when I heard of a ground floor opportunity to go to a start up machine shop with emphasis on the medical related manufacturing. I help grow that company with sales over 15 million when the owner sold it to a company from Michigan. That company mainly did precision machining for the auto industry but wanted to expand into medical machining. I decided to stay with that company called Autocam Medical Plymouth. Autocam manufactures bone screws, plates to fix bone fractures, replacement hips, knees, and shoulders.
I worked there until my retirement in April of 2018.
- What would you like us to know about you and your family?
I moved to Hanson at age 4 in 1956. I am the oldest of four. I have three sisters Jane, Gail and Amy. Jane introduced me to a girl in her high school class Virginia in 1971. We dated for 5 years while she went to Brockton Hospital School of Nursing, got married and over the years raised 5 children, David, Nathan, Emily, Laura and Rose. Ginny was a stay at home Mom until Laura was born. She worked part time at various Nursing jobs until we built a house in Hanson. She got a full time job at Brockton Hospital and spent over 20 years working there in many different departments. She finally had her dream job as an IV Nurse on the 3-11 shifts servicing half of the hospital until 2008 at age 53 she died of a heart attack. Our family established a Scholarship Fund in her memory for students at that school.
In 2011 a fellow co-worker at Autocam introduced me to a woman named Karen Crombie. We have been together since that day in February. Karen has been a great partner in my journey in life and the person that keeps me grounded.
- Any fun hobbies you’d like to share?
Well as a kid I liked to build plastic models any type, cars, planes, boats etc. Working with my hands was my destiny. At age 18 I purchased my first motorcycle a 1970 Triumph 500cc trophy for $1050.00. Over the years I also purchased off road bikes too. I enjoyed riding including a trip to North Carolina on a 650 Yamaha and many trips around the northeast on my current bike a Yamaha Royal Star Tour Classic 1100. When you ride you become a more aware driver. When I look back probably a year before my diagnoses riding to and from work I noticed a drop in my focus. So since my diagnosis and the fact that a close neighbor and friend lost his life when a person texting crossed over the line and hit him head on while he was riding, I haven’t ridden since. Other hobbies or things I enjoy include board games, sailing, camping.
- How has 110 Fitness impacted your life outside of the gym?
The many activities I have been a part of like Spartan at Fenway, New England Parkinson’s Ride, The Green Beret Mission Challenge at Camp Resilience and the Hit the Beach Surfing Event would not have been possible if it weren’t for Brett, Anna and the people of 110 Fitness, some who have become close friends. We are living our best life with Parkinson’s because of 110.