Helen Dearborn Whittier

Helen Dearborn Whitter was born on 18 April, 1899, the daughter of Clara Eldora Whittier and William L. Whittier, in Deerfield, New Hampshire, Rockingham County.  She died in Gardner on 9 December, 1980.  Many GHS classmates will remember her not-so-nice nickname, "The Swamp Lady" or recall that during the 1950's she taught biology and was advisor to the Biology Club.  Few of our generation may remember the leadership roles she played as President of the Gardner Teachers Association in the 1940's or the other science subjects she taught during her tenure in Gardner.  Miss Whittier also documented local field trips in biology and earth science, including studies of glacial landforms in Gardner, for which she developed carefully mimeographed maps, drawings and handouts to assist students and townspeople in understanding the local landscape.  From 1966 to 1976 Miss Whittier led Great Books Discussion Groups in Gardner.  She lived in an apartment at 26 Central Street (now demolished) near the Woodland Spa (also gone).

If you have a special memory of Miss Whittier, please use the comment feature on this blog page to add your thoughts about one of Gardner High School's finest teachers.

Remembering Robert Duncan

Robert Thomas Duncan died peacefully at his home on  Tuesday, February 7, 2012.  He taught mathematics and coached football, basketball, and track at Gardner High School between 1955 and 1990. From 1955 to 1965 he was assistant football coach.  During that period his freshman team was so successful it lost but one game in eleven years.

In retirement, Bob and his wife spent winters in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and traveled widely, visiting 35 countries.

More details are available at the Mack Funeral Home web site at http://www.mackfuneralhome.com/obits/obituary.php?id=150878

Please  feel welcome to add more information or a tribute using the "comment" feature on this blog.

Remembering Lew Bishop

During our Gardner Junior and High School years, we each encountered other students with special qualities who demonstrated outstanding achievement - whether that was in art, music, academics, theater, practical arts, public speaking, or athletics.  One of those individuals was Lewis M. Bishop.

Lewis M. Bishop, age 70, died on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, in Auburn, Massachusetts.  He is survived by three sons, Robert, Lauren, and Larry; a daughter, Trena; two sisters, Marion E. Moreland of Corpus Christi, TX, and Judith L. (Bishop) Farnsworth of Otter River, MA.  Lew was preceded in death by his brother, Glenn C. Bishop, Jr. and his sister, Louise (Bishop) Earle.  He was raised in Hubbardston, MA and attended  Gardner High School.

Lew is most often remembered as a gifted athlete.  He played Minor League Baseball in the Chicago Cubs organization, 1960-1962.  Internet sites show his baseball statistics and scouting reports.  Graveside services for Lew will be held at a future date.

Ron Rogers, GHS 1959, writes, "Lew and I spent a lot of time together.  One time we were at Pete's Pool Room and he asked if I could take him to California for spring training.  I had a 1949 Chevy Coupe that we had to push start every day as we went across the country via the southern route to avoid the snow.  The floorboards caught fire one day and we ripped them out and contunued on .  We made it all the way and buried the car in a junkyard.  That was crazy but we had lots of fun. Lew was a great sportsman and friend.  Sorry to hear of his passing."

Jim Bessette, GHS 1961, remembers Lew as very competitive fisherman who would wander away from the group, disappear for a while, then return to the group all wet and with lots of fish. They often wondered how he did it.

Tom Ryan, GHS 1960, acknowledges Lou's strength, speed, and power.  As a Freshman , Lew hit a 400 foot home run. His Sophomore batting average was 600, and as a Junior he hit two off the green momnster.  Lew lettered in both baseball and track." (Facebook comment).

If you have a comment or story to share, please use the comment feature or send us an e-mail with your thoughts.

Gardner High School Murals

Patty (Wolcott) Berger is shown standing beneath a mural painted by her father.  Patty posed as the girl shown in the white dress who is taking a picture of a graduating student.

The murals on the wall of our "old" Gardner High School building on Elm Street were completed on October 9, 1940.  In an article published in the Gardner News on Thursday, December 22, 2011, author Mike Richard describes how the murals were painted on canvas by John Gilmore Wolcott of Lowell, Massachusetts.  These murals depict life-sized figures showing both the curricular and extra-curricular activities of the high school.

Were you inspired by a particular image from these murals?  Could you identify with the young artist working on a painting?  The students with diplomas, graduation caps, and gowns?  Or the football player, chemistry lab, or shop machines?  The scenes were filled with meaningful activity.

One of the remarkable things about Mike Richard's article, "Life meets art for woman depicted in decades-old mural" is that Mike interviews the daughter of the artist, who was amazed that the vibrant colors of the murals are as alive today as when her father first painted them more than 70 years ago.

These murals offered to each of us "images of potential" that we may not have been aware of at the time, but which have profoundly influenced our lives.  If you have a special memory of these murals, I hope you will try the comment feature on this blog and tell us about it.

A Message from Russell Hoag

The following message from classmate Russell Hoag was sent via e-mail recently:

This is the time of year that I would like to urge our former classmates to consider supporting the Stone Fund with a monetary contribution. My own family, as with many other families in Gardner at the time, would have had a difficult time funding my college education without scholarships from the Stone Fund.  During each of the first three years of college, the Stone Fund provided me with a scholarship that amounted to about 40% of my annual tuition.

Starting last year, Phyllis and I have begun to repay those awards to the Stone Fund, hoping to complete the effort in four annual installments.  To compensate for the time value of the money we are doing so at a rate of about ten to one (Ten dollars for every one dollar awarded in the 1960 period).  Rather than as a donation, we view this as a repayment.  As a former recipient, I am confident that such a contribution will be used to support needy students from th Gardner area.  Unlike many other well-known charities, you truly know where your donation goes.

The address for the Albert H. and Reuben S. Stone Fund is P.O. Box 1008, Gardner, MA 01440

Many thanks for forwarding this idea. We are in our third full year of retirement and are now living in Roanoke, Virginia.  As we have seen from comments made by other retirees on the GHS Web log, the years are literally flying by.  We enjoy reading the postings and appreciate the way the blog keeps us connected.

Russ and Phyllis Hoag

Editor's note: Russ is both sincere and generous in expressing his reflections on the Stone Fund.  The folks at the Stone Fund are very approachable and would accept donations in any amount, from both Gardner men and women (scholarships are now awarded to female applicants).  I hope that you find Russell's appeal to be timely, relevant, and in keeping with the season.

Boys State Representatives 1960

The American Legion sponsored program, Boys State, emphasizes the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of franchised citizens.  The GHS Class of 1960 classmates shown above represented Gardner High School: Timothy Swanson, Stanley Gemborys, Richard Donovan, John Awdycki, and Walter Dubzinski, Jr.  Alice (Winter) Empie represented Gardner High School at Girls State. Students were selected on the basis of demonstrated leadership, character,scholarship, loyalty, and service to school and community.

Remembering Coach Priscilla Power

Priscilla F. Power, 90, of York Harbor, ME, died on Saturday December 3, 2011 at the Edgewood Center in Portsmouth, NH.  She was born November 30, 1921, and was a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Coach Power was a physical education teacher and coach at Gardner High School for 34 years.  In the photo above, she is shown with GHS Class of 1960 classmates Rachel (Hebert) Reilly, Marcia (Shepard) Wilk, Mary (Phelan) Nordman, and Donna Rae (Blake) Beise.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, 262 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820-6043.  The Lucas and Eaton Funeral Home of 91 Long Sands Road, York, ME is directing arrangements.  Visit http://www.lucaseatonfuneralhome.com/