17 minute read
Alumni Weekend
Advertisement
ALUMNI
WEEKEND
CELEBRATING ALUMNI WEEKEND 2022
Foxcroft Academy Alumni Weekend 2022 was another resounding success. We look forward to a wonderful weekend fi lled with old friends and new beginnings every year. This year was even more special with the opening of the Jim Robinson Field House and the start of the bicentennial celebration.
FA ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2022
THIS IS THE weekend we circled on our calendars years ago, knowing this would be the kick-off event celebrating Foxcroft Academy’s Bicentennial as we have a great opportunity to showcase Foxcroft Academy's past and present,” said Arnold Shorey, Head of School. “Adding in the fact that we opened the Jim Robinson Field House, we also had the chance to celebrate the bright future here at FA, which is something we can be proud of.”
Speaking of the fi eld house, on August 5th over 600 people had the opportunity to witness the grand opening of the Jim Robinson Field House and the dedication of Philpot Field, the name given to the indoor turf surface in honor of longtime teacher and coach Gene Philpot. In addition to that, over 40 former fi eld hockey players, from as far back as the 1970s, played the fi rst offi cial game inside the fi eld house with the 2022 Pony alumni game. Following that, the party moved up Route 15 to the Piscataquis County Ice Arena for the alumni ice hockey game, which has seen a massive turnout inside its new home at PCIA.
Saturday, August 6th, included the Pony Pride road race, the homecoming golf scramble at Foxcroft Golf Club, the Harold W. Chase Memorial Tennis Tournament, alumni basketball (at Sedomocha), alumni soccer at the Jim Robinson Field House, and more. The town of Dover-Foxcroft celebrated its centennial with the return of the homecoming parade and street festival on Saturday morning. The day of celebration was capped off with the 2022 Alumni Banquet in the gym, followed by fi reworks at Sebec Lake. And there were at least 9 individual class reunions happening throughout the course of the weekend. All in all, it was a grand celebration of the maroon and white.
“It’s a busy time of year, but we wouldn’t have it any other way, especially coming out of the COVID pandemic,” said Shorey. “It was a great time seeing familiar faces, celebrating outstanding alumni, and showing off the new additions to our campus. It’s a good time to be in Dover-Foxcroft!”
ARNOLD SHOREY
A big thank you to the more than 125 alumni and friends who attended the annual alumni hockey game at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena on Friday, August 5th. With 42 players taking the ice, the Penquis Youth Hockey team and FA’s club team raised close to $2,500! Go Panthers!”
ANTHONY PHILLIPS, FA CLASS OF 1979
FA ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2022
FOXCROFT
ACADEMY
ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
RECIPIENT OF THE DR. MARY CHANDLER-LOWELL AWARD: MELISSA HIBBARD GRAHAM ’88
Dr. Lowell was an 1881 alumna of the Academy and went on to earn the degrees of Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor of Law, and Doctor of Jurisprudence. The award is given to an alumnus of Foxcroft Academy who has distinguished him/herself in their particular vocational fi eld.
During her time at FA Melissa was an active student involved in several clubs and organizations, including the student council and varsity club. She was a four-year member of the fi eld hockey, softball, and basketball cheering teams, being named captain of fi eld hockey and softball her senior year. Following graduation, Melissa enrolled at the University of Southern Maine, earning her Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1992. Starting in 1994, she began her career in long-term care at Hibbard Nursing Home as the Operations Manager. She remained the Operations Manager until she and her husband Corey, also a 1988 FA grad, moved to Caribou in June 2007. The following year, Melissa was off ered a job at the Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill as the Administrator. AHC is owned by the hospital in Presque Isle, Northern Light AR Gould. She began her career as an Administrator at the Aroostook Health Center, knowing it had been deemed a Special Focus Facility (which means a facility with a history of serious quality issues) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Within one year, she achieved her fi rst defi ciency-free survey with the Department of Health and Human Services at AHC! And then, in 2010, Melissa moved on and began working for the Maine Veterans’ Homes in Caribou and has been there for the past 12 years. Melissa has several individual and team awards she has received over the years, of which she is very proud. Her facility continues to achieve a 5-Star Rating by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), she was the recipient of the Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award in 2019 and 2020, given in recognition of distinction by the American College of Health Care Administrators. Only 3% of facilities nationwide qualify. Her facility received the Safety and Health Award for Public Employers (SHAPE Award) in 2016. This award is for employers who maintain exemplary safety and health management systems and is presented by the Department of Labor. In 2012, her team received the Bronze National Quality Award from the American Healthcare Association/National Center for Assisted Living. In 2016, her facility continued the quality journey and received the Silver National Quality Award from the American Healthcare Association/National Center for Assisted Living. Melissa and her husband Corey just celebrated their 30th anniversary in June and have two children. Their daughter Hannah graduated from Bowdoin College, living in New York City, and working as a Senior Admissions Offi cer at Barnard College. And son, Benjamin, is entering his second year at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York. As for infl uential FA faculty members who shaped her life, Melissa says, "Ms. Philpot and the fi eld hockey program came to mind fi rst. When we played, we could see Hibbard’s from our fi eld. Coach told me a few times that she could see me sitting at a desk at the nursing home working! I honestly thought that was crazy! But I never forgot that she said that to me all those years ago!!! She taught us that we needed to work hard to win but that it was okay to have fun too! She knew the right balance to create successful teams and strong young women.”
FOXCROFT
ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
ACADEMY
RECIPIENT OF THE TILLSON THOMAS AWARD: GARY WORTHING
The award is given to a former faculty or staff member who, in the opinion of his/her former students, served the students of Foxcroft Academy with the highest degree of professionalism. Award winners are voted upon and chosen by FA alumni.
The dictionary defines the word “legend” as an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field. The word “pillar” means a supporting, integral, or upstanding member or part of a pillar of society. In 2017, our legend and one of our pillars decided to hang it up after a 40-year teaching career at Foxcroft Academy. Many people come and go. Students graduate, athletes move on to bigger things, and staff members leave for retirement or what they feel are new and exciting opportunities. But this guy doesn’t leave. Our legend might not be as close but he’s never too far away.
I had the pleasure of having Gary Worthing as a biology teacher, track and field coach, and driver's education instructor. I heard of the legend of Mr. Worthing before I came to FA; I saw it in person as a student and got to see it as a coworker. I’m still not sure I can put my finger on it. What makes this man almost feel like an urban legend, yet you see him every day of the week? He never seems bothered or deterred. It’s like the old antiperspirant advertisement, “Never let them see you sweat.” That’s our Mr. Worthing. He’s like our own Chuck Norris. Did you know Gary Worthing has his own diary? Yes, it’s called the Guinness Book of World Records. I could go on and on and bore you with facts and make this a piece that would make you want to cry in the end, but why do that? Let’s have fun instead. Since retiring, Gary has shared that with his wife, his grandkids, and most likely, the fish he’s caught or the wildlife he’s hunted. I will give you a few facts, then the rest of the story (thanks for the line, Paul Harvey) will be told by you, the former students, and co-workers of this man. We have faculty move on or retire every year. We always want what is best for them. This one is special, though. Through our research, we have found three teachers who have been here 40 years. In 2014, history teacher Rusty Willette called it a career. George Rolleston is still going at 42 years, and Gary is the other one. Foxcroft Academy has been blessed with many great teachers over the years that care about their students and the building they teach in. Gary fit that to a T.
Gary graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn in 1969. He went on to college at the University of Maine, where he earned his degree in education, minoring in biology. After spending a few years teaching biology and math at Oxford Hills High School in South Paris, along with coaching football, skiing, and track, Gary decided it was time for a move north. FA was not unfamiliar territory. He would drive by the school during summers when he was younger and often thought to himself, “I love the outdoors and the woods. If I could ever find a place where I could live with that and make a living doing it, I would move”. That eventually happened. In 1977, Gary took a position at Foxcroft Academy as a science teacher and head football coach.
In his time at Foxcroft Academy, there isn’t much he hasn’t done. He was hired out of need (FA’s former football coach Dennis Kiah left right before the season to take a new job in Brewer), but it turns out he was just what FA needed. He has been a science teacher, head of the department, head football coach, assistant football coach, track and field coach, and Key Club advisor. For 17 years, he taught driver’s ed with Pete Caruso, and he has the gray hairs to prove it.
Gary’s two children, Ariel ’06 and Evan ’08, are both graduates of FA. His wife, Jane (Champeon) ’83, is also a proud Pony alum. He hasn’t really slowed down in retirement as he has a self-proclaimed project list a mile long. He’s spent time outdoors, cutting trees, enjoying nature, and playing with his grandkids. He’s stayed on the sidelines as an assistant coach with the FA football team, and is the perfect companion to head coach Danny White bringing both age and wisdom. He’s helped keep the Ponies championship contenders year in and year out.
When you think of Mr. Worthing, his calm demeanor always comes to mind. How did he get it? “When you are doing exactly what you want to do, why would you get upset? I couldn’t have scripted it better. So, Mr. Worthing, I speak for your thousands of students, student-athletes, and faculty members in saying thanks for being here for us, and I, for one, am so happy for the privilege to have gotten to know you.
FA ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2022
THANK YOU TO ALL THE GENEROUS SPONSORS OF THE 2022 HOMECOMING GOLF SCRAMBLE
FA ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2022 FA ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2022
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Tyler, Simms & St. Sauveur
GOLD SPONSORS
A. E. Robinson Oil Co., Inc. First National Bank Rowell’s Garage
SILVER SPONSORS
Borislow Insurance Case-DeFranco Agency Dave’s World Dennis Paper & Food Service Dover Ford Down East Orthopedic
Associates Greenway Equipment Sales Lary Funeral Home Maine Fire Protection Systems Northern Light/Mayo Hospital Piscataquis Monumental Co. Puritan Medical Products Co. Steinke & Caruso Dental Care
BRONZE SPONSORS
Bear’s Den Inn & Restaurant Chloe’s Collection Florist Dover True Value Essex St. Dental HOMETOWN Health Center George E. Howard Insurance Maine Highlands FCU Mallett Real Estate Sheridan Construction tDow Photography
FRIENDS
AMB Signs Foxcroft Printers ALUMNI WEEKEND
Celebrating CLASS REUNIONS
1952
Six members of the Class of 1952 really enjoyed their 70th reunion get-together like never before. Present at the Alumni Banquet were Tom Gerrish, Betty Cail Friend, Barbara Brown Small, Lois Salley Farr, Rod Collette. Seated in front is “Coach Mac” Bob MacNevin.
1962
1957
From the desk of Carlson Williams
Eleven classmates from the Class of 1957 celebrated our 65th high school reunion by gathering at the home of Carlson and Carolyn Williams during Alumni Weekend to share reminiscences. From left to right in the front row are Sylvia Richards Dean, Craig Andrews, Georganne Howard Dow, Charlene Lunt French, Mary Gellerson Adams and Marlene Thurston Lyford. Standing in the rear are Terry Gardner, Carlson Williams, Dotty Anderson Blanchard, Ed Harvey, and Jim Anderson. Behind them is a photograph of a somewhat younger Class of ’57 standing in front of the Capitol on our senior class trip.
1962
From the desk of Barbara Beede Moore
Left to Right — Pat Patterson Hewett, Vic Hewett, Gail Hewett Doore, Dennis Lyford, Gary Preble, Gloria Downs Cook, Barb Beede Moore, Jim Levensalor, Phil Mitchell, and Jim Moir
The Class of ’62 took their LET’S PARTY LIKE IT’S 1962 theme to Thayer Parkway for a rousing time of memories, laughter, and sharing pictures and good times together. Ten members reminisced with Subway sandwiches (not even available in 1962) and a blast from the past, Butterfield’s ice cream sundaes. A big shout-out to Gary Preble who traveled all the way from Maryland to be together with our ’62 Family. After enjoying an afternoon of really enjoyable memories, we rounded out the evening at “good ole FA” for the Alumni Banquet and enjoyed sharing stories with many younger and older classes. A really great weekend - and we really “Rocked” it. Thank you to all who attended. The top picture is from our 10th reunion, in 1972 held at the Dexter Motor Lodge. Not much has changed in 50 years... we are still FA Family!
1967
From the desk of Phil Moore
The Class of 1967 gathered at Phil Moore’s Sebec Lake camp to celebrate their 55th class reunion with a potluck cookout. 19 classmates gathered with their spouses and partners. A wonderful time was had sharing stories and catching up with each other. A big thank you to AMB Signage for donating the banner!
FA ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2022
Celebrating CLASS REUNIONS
1972
From the desk of Suzanne Cox Raymond The Class of ’72 has a Blast! Many members of the 50th reunion class enjoyed a busy fun-filled weekend with the first event on Friday to decorate the class float for the town’s homecoming parade. While it was an incredibly hot and steamy day, the enthusiasm and energy remained high throughout; it was a great turnout with 20 classmates (plus other folks) joining in to lend a hand and/or to share a story or two. The parade the next day - wow, what an exceptional time was enjoyed by all. While we are 50 years out of the gate, for that half hour or so, we traveled through town on the float as if we were 18 again. With 25 of us on board, decked out in our tie-dyed Foxcroft ’72 alumni t-shirts (or other cool t-shirts), listening to the tunes of the 60’s and 70’s, we were groovin’ along the parade route. Many have wondered, who was that man donning the Richard Nixon mask? The one and only Scott Hamlin who does such an amazing job sharing that piece of history from 50 years ago– (the Watergate scandal!) Later that day, 18 members and other family members enjoyed a wonderful time at the Alumni Banquet where Dave Albee shared a tribute to the class. After the banquet, a class party was held at Central Hall Commons. It was a lovely relaxed time to reminisce - not only about our school days, but memories of Central Hall as well. It was a weekend of great re-connections with sincere plans to stay in touch!
Members present at one or more of our gatherings include the following (maiden names only): Annalee Korsman, Arnold Stevens, Becky Ladd, Bill Patterson, Bill Smart, Bruce Robinson, Carole Philpot, Debbie Nutting, Duane Warren, Ellen Anderson, Grace Dean, Herb Edgerly, Kerry Anderson, Jeff Hobbs, Jere White, Joe Perkins, John Kimball, Lynne Ronco, Mark Chadbourne, Mark Stevens, Micky Colbry, Nancy Rollins, Paul McKusick, Peter Robinson, Rick Pembroke, Robin Hill, Scott Hamlin, Sean Stitham, Shawn Nelson, Steve Cochran, Steve Currie, and Suzanne Cox.
1992
From the desk of Theresa Spelios The Class of 1992 gathered at the fairgrounds to celebrate our 30th reunion. The reunion was smaller than the last one but there were a lot of people who have never been to a reunion before so it was really fun to see them!! Kelly Keenan came in from California... Troy Rogalinski, Dennis Hayes and Donald Smart have not been to any of the other reunions before now. Thank you to all who made the effort to come.
From the desk of Kelly Dow Anderson The Class of 1997 kept its 25th reunion local at Tap 62 on Saturday evening of Alumni Weekend. The staff was wonderful and the food delicious. Several hours were spent laughing, catching up, and reminiscing with 20 classmates and their plus ones. We were so happy to see some faces in attendance who we hadn’t seen in 25 years! We’re already looking forward to our 30th! When you misread the invitation when it said, “so this is what 25 is like” thinking it was a birthday celebration versus your high school reunion! Weren’t we 25 yesterday?
From the desk of Ashley McKusick Buttice Along with their families, members of the Class of 2002 gathered at the Foxcroft Golf Club during Alumni Weekend. A great turnout, it was wonderful to reconnect with classmates and reminisce. The event was catered by Pat’s Pizza and Vail’s Bakery. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the next reunion!
1997
2002
FA ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2022
