From left to right, Lyme-Old Lyme High School Principal Jim Wygonik stands with Athletic Director Rob Roach and Classics teacher Marlene Estabrooks.

At the Region 18 Board of Education meeting last Wednesday evening, six teachers who were retiring at the end of the current school year were acknowledged in front of a standing room only audience.  But these were not a group of teachers who had spent just their twilight years in Old Lyme, but rather teachers who had given their life’s work to the district serving, in most cases, well over 30 years.

Marlene Estabrooks joined the high school in the 1980s and, as its current principal, Jim Wygonik, noted she has pretty much experienced “the lifecycle of the building.”  Estabrooks had taught classics at the high school and during her tenure, Wygonik estimated she had taught Latin to over 3,000 students.   Describing her as the “consummate professional,” Wygonik noted that, such is her passion for the subject, she frequently spends her summers on archaeological digs in Greece.  He concluded emphatically, “There is no replacing Marlene.”

Turning his attention to Athletic Director Rob Roach, Wygonik mentioned first that the New London Day had recently aptly labeled him, ‘Mr. Old Lyme.’  Wygonik continued by saying that Roach really had been the “lifeblood of Lyme-Old Lyme sports for over three decades,” noting, “There isn’t an award he hasn’t received.”

While at Old Lyme, Roach had managed to achieve not only a greater than 50 percent participation rate in extra-curricular sports by the students – an extraordinarily high percentage – but also had served as a “pioneer of girls’ soccer” in the state.

Wygonik mentioned that he had become aware as he visited schools in Connecticut that it was crystal clear there was a universal, “genuine respect” among coaches and athletic directors for Roach, who had successfully located, “multiple offsite venues,” during the extended period of school construction in order that school sports program might continue.  Saying he really could not put a number on the students whose lives Roach had impacted, Wygonik noted that Roach, who was an outstanding All-American athlete in his youth, had served as a teacher, coach, athletic director and assistant principal during his years in the district.

Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Principal Chris Pomroy joins science teacher Richard LaVecchia (left) and School Counselor Don Desautels.

Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Principal Chris Pomroy opened his comments about retiring school counselor Don Desautels with the words, “They just don’t make them like they used to …”  Describing him as “an icon,” Pomroy continued, “I just don’t know how many lives he has touched with his influence and inspiration,” adding, “Don is an amazing counselor, who is regularly visited by students, who see him as an outlet.”  He commended Desautel’s true passion for his job over his more than 30-year tenure, which has not only involved teaching and counseling, but also serving as the extremely successful coach of the high school girls’ soccer team, which brought home two state championships under him.

Pomroy closed by wishing Desautels, “Congratulations on your retirement …” adding with a chuckle, “… and condolences to your wife!”

Then Pomroy turned to science teacher Richard LaVecchia, who has been with the district some 40 years.  Describing him as a “timeless” member of the faculty, Pomroy said that LaVecchia also has touched thousands of student lives with his “boundless energy … and sense of humor.”  Noting that LaVecchia rarely sits during classes he is teaching, Pomroy commented that students seek out LaVecchia for help and guidance.  To ripples of laughter from other members of the middle school faculty present, Pomroy also thanked LaVecchia for being “an integral member” of the middle school team giving “frequent and ongoing” input to all matters under discussion in the school.

School Psychologist Barbara Fitzpatrick (left) stands with Region 18 Director of Special Services Nancy Johnston.

Director of Special Services Nancy Johnston then introduced Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Psychologist Barbara Fitzpatrick, noting that Fitzpatrick has “successfully served for over a quarter of a century,” in Region 18 Schools and had been, “a visible person everywhere.”  Johnston had asked several of her colleagues to say what they remembered and would miss most about Fitzpatrick and the answers came back remarkably similar.  Words like, “soft-spoken, kind, gentle, caring and supportive,” were all repeated over and over again.  One staff member recalled she had never heard Fitzpatrick say, “a harsh, angry word,” while another said, “She was always there for us,” and a third extolled her “steady patience.”  Apart from all these characteristics, Johnston mentioned another skill for which Fitzpatrick was renowned – her baking prowess, for which she will be universally missed!

Fifth grade teacher Kevin Cole and Center School Principal Ellen Tyler.

Center School teacher Kevin Cole has served a total of 38 years in Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, “18 years and eight months in the middle school and 19 years and two months at Center School,” according to Center School Principal Ellen Tyler, who said she had known him variously during that time as a “parent, colleague and principal.”  She continued, “Kevin has worked diligently for every single day,” noting, “he is one of the most talented, caring and hard-working teachers I have known.”  Tyler noted that much of Cole’s work is unseen, arriving early to see a parent, staying late to help a colleague, and “quietly coming to a new principal to tell her how to handle a prickly situation.”

The new teacher evaluation plan had clearly evoked considerable comment from Cole to the extent that Tyler had created a sample one for his retirement.   She presented it to much laughter with target percentages including development in his role as a retiree along with whole family and retired teacher indices.

Saying he would be much missed, Tyler concluded by wishing Cole, “much health and happiness … and an exemplary retired husband rating!”

Linda Stannard (center)stands surrounded by her colleagues in the second grade team at Mile Creek School.

Mile Creek Principal Patricia Downes spoke warmly of retiring elementary school tutor Linda Stannard, who she described as, “a critical part of an extremely successful team.”  Downes noted that Stannard was, “deeply committed to her students … and passionate about learning.”  A special gift that Downes had identified about her colleague was that she was a, “wizard at scheduling,” something Downes said would be especially missed by the principal’s office.

After saying she would miss her dearly, Downes concluded simply, “Thank you for committing your professional life to Mile Creek School.”