Hello, Class of 1980! As I sit here working on this column, I am amazed that we
have been out of college 40 years! With the world that we are living in now, mass
gatherings just are not happening; however I continue to hope that we will be
able to have a reunion sometime soon.
Class president Rick Knowlton wrote:
Congratulations on our 40th Class Reunion! I hope that you are safe and healthy.
I did raise a stein to UMaine and to fond memories of our time in Orono on
Homecoming weekend!
This Reunion marks our 20th year of granting annual scholarships from the Class
of 1980 Scholarship Fund. Forty descendants of our class have received awards
totaling over $18,000, but the need is so much greater. As a reunion class,
donations to the class fund this year will qualify for a matching grant from the
UMaine Foundation. I ask you to join me in making a contribution to the Class of
1980 Scholarship Fund. For more information, please contact Dee Gardner ’89 at
the UMaine Foundation.
Steve Dunwoody has reached out, and has shared memories of being on the
University of Maine swim team. Steve notes, “We had such a strong team in
1978!” Steve also remembers those early 5 AM practices!
Karen Hart has retired from Skowhegan Savings Bank after 37 years of service.
Karen is a Farmington native, and resides in Smithfield with her husband, Steve.
She enjoys just about anything the Maine outdoors has to offer, and enjoys
spending time with her two grown children, Andrew and Alexandra.
The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce recently awarded Robert Kieffer
the Lifetime Achievement Award. Rob is the agency manager for United
Insurance Kieffer Agency, located in Caribou. Rob’s daughters Alison Kieffer,
Lydia Kieffer-Till, and Ginger Kieffer ’17 presented the award to him. They noted
that in addition to running his business for 39 years, their father has been
involved with numerous community organizations and has served on many local
boards.
Thomas Fox, former professor of forestry at Virginia Tech, has been conferred
the title of the Honorable Garland Gray Professor Emeritus by the Virginia Tech
Board of Visitors. The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors,
associate professors and administrative officers who are recommended to the
board by the president of Virginia Tech in recognition of exemplary service to the
university. Thomas was a member of the Virginia Tech community from 2000-
2017. He made significant contributions to the field of forestry through his work in
forest soils and silviculture that focused on intensive plantation management.
Brent Colbry G retired in June. Brent was the superintendent of Maine School
Administrative District (MSAD) 54. Have fun in your retirement, Brent.
Forty years, and it seems like only yesterday! Share your memories with your
classmates.
We would love to hear from you. Be safe and well.