William P. Morrissey Immediately Senior Vice President (617) 628-4000 CENTRAL BANCORP REPORTS DEATH OF DIRECTOR SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, May 12, 2003-- Central Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEBK) today reported the death of Garrett Goodbody, a Director of the Company. Mr. Goodbody joined the Board of Directors in November 2002. Central Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Central Bank, whose legal name is Central Co-operative Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered co-operative bank operating eight full-service banking offices and one limited-service high school branch in suburban Boston.