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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 8, 2009


                              CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.
               (Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Charter)


      MASSACHUSETTS                  0-25251            04-3447594
- ----------------------------       ------------         -------------
(State Or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission          (IRS Employer
   Of Incorporation)               File Number)        Identification No.)


        399 HIGHLAND AVENUE, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS       02144
        ---------------------------------------------------------------
        (Address Of Principal Executive Offices)           (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 628-4000
                                                           --------------


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
    (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
    (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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ITEM 5.02  DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN  OFFICERS;  ELECTION OF  DIRECTORS;
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           APPOINTMENT  OF CERTAIN  OFFICERS;  COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF
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           CERTAIN OFFICERS.
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     (b) On January 8, 2009, Joseph R. Doherty informed the Boards of Directors
of Central Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and its wholly owned subsidiary,
Central Co-operative Bank (the "Bank"), that he will be retiring from the Boards
of Directors of the Company and the Bank effective January 15, 2009.





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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                       CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.



Date:  January 9, 2009                 By:/s/ John D. Doherty
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          John D. Doherty
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer