Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Summer 2007 | 页面 4

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Agreste Enjoyed Being a Teacher, Coach
and Thornton’s Activities Director
He served at TA
for 37 years and
is remembered for
time spent both
on and off the
field
Growing up in Biddeford, Dick Agreste had
dreams of becoming a
professional basketball
player. As a kid, he loved
to play the game every day
near May Field. Despite
never having the opportunity to don a professional
jersey, after 37 years with
Thornton Academy, Agreste
is considered one of Thornton’s most valuable players.
Fresh from Boston
University with a special
education degree, Agreste
came to Thornton in 1970
to teach physical education
and coach freshman football. As a new teacher, he
quickly realized he was in
a special place. Having atPhoto by Lloyd Hunt
tended a parochial elemenDick Agreste, center, retired as Student Activities Director this spring. He celebrated his retirement with his family, which
tary school and St. Louis
includes his two sons, Kirk Agreste ‘99, left, and Craig Agreste ‘92, right. Kirk teaches wellness at Thornton Academy Middle
High School, Agreste says
School while Craig teaches wellness at the High School.
he felt very comfortable at
TA from the start.
sure that you were teaching them awards and the 1988 Maine FootAgreste ‘92, and Kirk Agreste ‘99.
“When I got the job
correctly.”
ball Coaches Association Coach of Craig teaches wellness to Thornhere, Thornton was much bigger
“That really turned the light
the Year award.
ton’s high school students and
than St. Louis, obviously, because
on,” he adds. “If you are going
In 1997, Agreste became
serves as offensive coordinator
it only had 150 boys,” he says,
to persevere in this profession,
Thornton’s Athletic Director. But
for the football team as well as
“but I saw the resemblance to
make darn sure you know what
over the years, his dedication
coach to Thornton’s girls lacrosse
where I had gone to high school.
you are teaching. I am a firm
to providing young people with
and freshman boys basketball.
Thornton had traditions, and
believer that if you are a good
educational and athletic opporKirk is a Thornton wellness teachthe alumni were involved. Even
coach, then you are going to be
tunities has not been limited by
er at the Middle School who overthough Thornton’s Alumni Assoa good teacher and vice versa.
campus boundaries. Throughout
sees its athletics and volunteers
ciation is now much more active
You’ve got to be prepared, you’ve
his career, Agreste has remained
at the high school as a football
than it was in the 70s, you could
got to know your subject matter,
an active member of the SMAA,
coach. And Jay coached freshman
see it growing then. It made me
you’ve got to work at it, and you
serving as SMAA president,
boys basketball at Thornton for
feel very comfortable to be here.
have to have a work ethic.”
president of the SMAA Football
several years.
It gave me the sense of this is the
Agreste’s outstanding coachCoaches Association and presi “Having the two boys working
way education is. It was a real
dent of the SMAA Girls Basketball here and the third son coach here
friendly place then, and it’s really ing talents did not go unnoticed.
Twice he was recognized by the
Coaches Association. For eight
in the past is something special,”
stayed that way.”
Southern Maine Athletic Associayears, Agreste sat on the Maine
he says. “They have real strong
After a year at Thornton,
tion with 1982Principals’ Asdesire and love of this school,
Agreste signed on as golf coach,
sociation Basjust as I do. This place is special
and then took over coaching boys 83 and 1984-85
Girls Basketball
ketball Commitand they just like being a part of
basketball, first for the freshman
Coach of the
tee, serving as
it.”
team and later at the junior varYear awards,
committee chair
So does Agreste. “Being at difsity level. When the varsity boys
and he also
for two years
ferent functions and saying ‘I’m
basketball coach left, Agreste reearned a 1985
and as a leader
from Thornton Academy’ really
fused the position and got out of
Maine State Baswith that o &v