Barbara McCarthy Allen
Hello, everyone. We are now finished with another winter and, at least in Maine, we are a lot closer to being comfortable outside. Heavenly!
Your 50-year Reunion is coming closer all the time. We are planning and looking forward to seeing you. I have a few notes from your friends.
George Campbell ’79G of Augusta has been elected to serve on the board of trustees at the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick. In case you don’t know about that wonderful enterprise, it’s all about bringing musical theatre to the campus of Bowdoin College, and they do a magnificent job. George has also served as commissioner of transportation in both Maine and New Hampshire. He has also served private sector clients, which include General Dynamics (Bath Iron Works), Great Spring Waters of America (Nestlé), and L.L. Bean.
In Bangor, Steve ’70, ’87 Hon. L.H.D. and Tabitha Spruce King ’71, ’87 Hon. L.H.D. requested and were granted a zoning change for two of their homes to be used as an extensive archive and serve as a writers’ retreat. The change means simply that the properties will no longer be zoned as just residential but as a zone that would allow a nonprofit organization. The request was approved immediately. The Kings have done a tremendous amount of good for the city of Bangor, and keeping a permanent home for their works and giving a retreat for writers within the city seems like a win-win for everyone.
I received a lovely note from Pamela Randlett Cleveland offering to assist with our Reunion, which is just a year away. She and husband, Jim, moved to Kennebunk when they retired from their jobs in Massachusetts. Aha! Another former Mainer returns to life “the way it should be.” Welcome back, all of you who just couldn’t stay away.
University of Maine at Farmington’s veteran basketball coach, Dick Meader G, noticed his first symptoms of Parkinson’s disease 15 years ago. After 27 years at UMaine Farmington, which was preceded by 17 years as coach at Thomas College in Waterville, he had a 2020 season with wins in the last 13 games. He is tough!
He continued to show up early every morning and often stayed late to work with the team. As retirement drew to a close at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, he recognized that he had limits, but the subject never came up with his team. In April, Dick was presented with the Division III Outstanding Service Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches during the NCAA Division I Men’s Final Four in Atlanta.