Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Summer 2007 | Page 2

www.thorntonacademy.org

Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette ‘89

And they’re off
The class of 2007 celebrated all their achievements
at Thornton Academy during graduation. See photos
on page 11.

Trusting, Generous, Helpful
and Cooperative: That’s
Thornton Academy

By Carl J. Stasio Jr.
Headmaster

At the end of every school year most of my sen-

We celebrate the heroes of both eras – those who

tences seem to include the words, “Thank you.” I thank

have made TA the great school it is, and those who

parents whose efforts on behalf of their children and

have newly accepted the torch. Schools do not last 200

our school help to create valuable connections with

years just by chance. This fall Thornton admits the

families and the community. I thank our many alumni

body of students who are the Class of 2011, a bicen-

and friends whose generosity and support consistently

tennial milestone. We could only have reached such

allows Thornton to achieve the excellence in program

an historic point through remarkable stewardship and

and facilities on which we pride ourselves. I thank

dedication – of our Boards of Trustees, of our Alumni

faculty and staff for yet another good year; inevitably

Association, of our community supporters and friends,

this group includes at least one retiree without whom

and of the faculty and staff who make Thornton the

we’re not sure how we’ll manage going forward. Many

exceptional educational community it is. Without our

of these people are regarded as pillars for Thornton’s

heroes throughout the ages, we would be just another

strength, and saying “thank you” hardly reflects the

high school.

Alumni Director: Nancy Tripp ‘67

depth of appreciation we feel.

COVER PHOTO: Ryan Cullinan ‘07
participated in the “hug line” after
graduation this year. Photo by Shawn
Patrick Ouellette ‘89.

special group of retires – Dick Agreste, Chris Queally,

Postcripts

Thornton Academy
Summer 2007
Vol. 42, No. 2
Postcripts is published twice a year
for Thornton Academy alumni and
friends. The mailing of Postscripts
is made possible through gifts to
the Thornton Fund. Please address
alumni news & correspondence to:
Postscripts, Alumni Office, Thornton
Academy, 438 Main St., Saco, ME
04072-1595, or call 207-282-3361.
Production by: Mitch Boutin ‘01; Jennifer Hass; Lisa Morin; Lynn G. Novak;
Caron Smith Pelletier ’98; and Nancy
Tripp ‘67.

PHOTO ABOVE: Jessica Spellman, Amber Phillips and Amy Philbrick (from
left to right) were among the seniors
in the class of 2007 to participate in
baccalaureate this spring. Photo by
Shawn Patrick Ouellette ‘89.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTO on page
1: Alexis West ‘13, left, and Tori Lands
‘13, right, were among the sixth-,
seventh- and eighth-grade students to
attend TA’s Middle School in its first
year. Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette
‘89.
TRUSTEES:
Vangel Cotsis ’85
Philip D. Fearon ’70
Dennis Flaherty
Bernard Gaines ’65
Stephen Garland ’64
Robert Gowen
Kenneth Janson ’72
William D. Johnson
William S. Kany ’77
Karen B. Lovell
Joyce Haley-Martin ’75
James E. Nelson ’67 (President)
Eric A. Purvis ’81
Joan Vachon Victor ’48
Mark G. Willett ’65
ALUMNI BOARD:
Kathy Allen ’72
Patricia Martin Beaudoin ’71 (President)
Todd M. Davis ’81
Lauren Chenard Folsom ’75
Scott Gallant ’86
Kenneth Janson ’72
Vera Gallant Kalagias ‘80
William S. Kany ’77
Debra Ketchum ’75
Melody Jordan Laskey ’79
Anthony M. LeBlanc ’88
David K. LePauloue ’84
Susan Willey Marston ’78
Mary Ann Stickles Martin’ 78
George Mendros ‘76
Richard Milliard ’66
Richard Parker ’60
Kirk Purvis ’93
Kathleen Boutet Santamore ’80
Allen R. Sicard ’75
Giselle Tardiff ’90
Corrections will appear in this space.
Please bring errors to the attention
of the editor by calling or writing the
Alumni Office. We appreciate your
bringing these items to our attention.



This spring I have had to say thank you to four im-

We dedicate this issue of Postscripts to this very

Mary Nasse and Cathy Coffman.

portant individuals. Thornton
Academy owes so much to
Dick Agreste, Cathy Coffman,
Mary Nasse and Chris Queally.
Dick wraps up a lifelong career, after getting his start at
TA 37 years ago as a physical

“Collectively, this year’s
retirees have given Thornton
Academy over 100 years’
worth of dedication,
experience, camaraderie and
wisdom.”

They leave indelible marks on
our school. They hand down a
rare school culture to the energetic young teachers following
in their footsteps, and exciting
leadership prospects for their
capable successors.

education teacher and coach.
The number of lives – students and colleagues – that

Chris Queally has touched in his 31 years of teach-

who bring schools to life:

ing English and directing theater is higher than I can

count. Over her 20 years at TA Mary has shown us all

within a school has a greater influence on the char-

how to marry common sense with common decency;

acter and quality of that school and on student ac-

her warmth and genuine concern for every individual

complishment than anything else. If the relationships

on campus will be sorely missed. Cathy has worn many

between (and among) administrators and teachers are

hats in 19 years, and TA has benefited under all of

trusting, generous, helpful and cooperative, then the

them. How does one really thank people such as these?

relationships between teachers and students, between

students and students, and between teachers and

Collectively, this year’s retirees have given Thorn-

Educator Roland Barth says this about the people

“The nature of relationships among the adults

ton Academy over 100 years’ worth of dedication,

parents are likely to be trusting, generous, helpful and

experience, camaraderie and wisdom. John F. Kennedy

cooperative.