Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2010 | Page 17

AlumniNews

Message from the Alumni Board President

by David LePauloue ’84
The TA Alumni Association has had an exciting
start to the new school year! We’ve been happy
to host and plan some of our annual events like
the Senior Alumni Banquet; a Homecoming tent;
Thanksgiving Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army; and
a blood drive to be held in March. We are also feeling
the wave of enthusiasm building toward Thornton’s
Bicentennial, which begins in February of 2011.
There will be several opportunities for TA Alumni
to come back to campus for some once in a lifetime
events. It all starts on February 12 with Founding
Day. This will be an all day event that promises to
conjure up memories from the past while creating
some lasting new memories. Other anchor events for
the bicentennial include: the Summer Family Festival
to be held in June; special Homecoming events that
I’m told will top anything we’ve seen in the past;
and a Closing Gala event that will culminate the
bicentennial year by presenting a permanent marker
celebrating TA’s 200th birthday. How can you not

be excited about that?! Please
check out the TA Bicentennial
Facebook page for more details,
or go to the TA web site at www.
thorntonacademy.org and click
on Alumni.
Thank you to all of the
Thornton alumni who have
helped at our recent events
and who are helping to plan
the bicentennial celebration.
David LePauloue ’84
TA couldn’t do it without your
help! Which reminds me to
request nominations for the TA Alumni Public Service
Award and the TA Distinguished Alumni Award.
Both are annual awards given to alumni who should
be recognized for outstanding public service and
volunteerism or outstanding lifetime achievements. If
you know of a deserving TA alumnus, please go to the
TA web site, click on the Alumni page and fill out an
application.

Josh Fearon ’98 Joins TA’s Alumni Board
Josh Fearon is TA’s newest Alumni Board member,
and he’s excited to be part of the group.
“Thornton is an integral part of our community
and it is an honor to join the board. I hope to
continue the traditions set forth by the Alumni Board
and work with my fellow members to keep our events
and community involvement running smoothly,” he
said.
Fearon has many fond memories of his time
back in school, including having Dick Parker ’60
for chemistry and competing in putting contests
organized by TA teacher and golf coach Mike Verrier.
He also enjoyed participating in football, basketball
and baseball.
After graduating from Thornton with the class
of 1998, Fearon attended Saint Anselm College in
Manchester, N.H., and received a degree in business.
Today he’s a licensed Property & Casualty and Life
& Health Insurance Agent with the Paquin & Carroll
Insurance Agency in Biddeford, where he’s worked
for four years. Prior to that he was a Disability Benefit
Specialty Specialist with UNUM in Portland.

Fearon lives in Saco with his
wife, Stephanie, who he met in
college and married three years
ago. He’s the son of Trustee Philip
Fearon ’70 and Brandi Fearon
of Saco. Many of his relatives
– including a cousin and many
aunts – also graduated from TA.
In his spare time, Fearon
enjoys golfing and skiing. He’s
very involved in the community,
Josh Fearon ’98
sitting on the Board of Trustees
for the Biddeford Saco Country
Club and being a member of the Biddeford-Saco
Rotary Club, Saco Spirit, the Finance Committee
for Mary’s Walk. He’s also a committee member for
Counseling Service Inc.’s Drive Against Child Abuse
Golf Tournament, and he’s Merchandise Chairperson
for TA’s Bicentennial Committee (Bicentennial items
available for purchase are listed on page 31).

Continued from page 12

part of the bigger TA community.
With a father who teaches in Old Orchard Beach and many other family members in the profession, perhaps
it’s no surprise that Robert ended up where she’s at today. “I was one of those kids playing school in the
basement as a kid,” she confesses – and attending TA fueled her interest in the field.
“Going to Thornton confirmed that this was what I wanted to do for a living,” she says. “I feel fortunate to
have attended a school like this with a big, beautiful campus and so many great teachers who take the time to
really connect with students.” Robert fondly recalls attending classes taught by Kate Timberlake, Sally Cody and
Kevin Kezal, among others, playing field hockey for Lori Roth Smith ’88, and being active in clubs like Student
Council and NHS. She’s grateful to have the chance to work with many of her former teachers today.
Postscripts

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