Pearl Turcotte Gapp
Greetings, classmates, and welcome to spring!
In recognition of his “outstanding positive impact” on the greater Belfast, ME, community, the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce named attorney Lee Woodward Citizen of the Year. Lee started Belfast Rotary’s fund and was the longest-serving Waldo County General Hospital board member in the hospital’s history. He has also served a number of Waldo County towns as town meeting moderator — a skill that requires an even temperament and plenty of humor.
While a student at the University of Maine, Richard Balentine ’83G majored in biology and ran cross-country and track for two years. After graduation he went on to teach science at Hampden Academy and over the years mentored hundreds of student-athletes. Last fall school officials honored the longtime coach and teacher by naming the cross-country course at Hampden Academy the Balentine Cross Country Course. A sign at the entrance to the course reads: “Honoring Dick Balentine for his 38 years of coaching cross country at Hampden Academy (1979-2016) and 41 years of educating the students of RSU 22.”
Noreen Williams, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Buffalo, was recognized for outstanding scientific achievement and service. She was awarded the 2018 Stockton Kimball Award, which honors “an outstanding scholar and researcher who has also contributed significantly to the school.” Noreen’s career-long interest is in the parasites that cause African sleeping sickness and Chagas disease.
Robert Clark ’83G, president of Husson University, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Sister Carol Martin celebrated her golden jubilee on July 22, 2018 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winthrop, ME. She is currently RCIA and faith formation coordinator at St. Francis Xavier and has served at St. Michael Parish for nearly a decade. She also serves as spiritual director for the St. John the Baptist Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans in Waterville. And, thanks to her work in Houlton years earlier, a fraternity was recently established at the parish there. Sister Carol said that throughout her 50 years of consecrated life she has always tried to minister with joy.
Sherry Porter, C.M. of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was invested into the Order of Canada on February 12, 2019. The Order recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and extraordinary contribution to the nation.
The Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, presented the award with the following citation:
“Sherry Porter is one of Nova Scotia’s most influential community builders. Her support for numerous not-for-profit organizations spans the fields of culture, education, and health care, and her commitment to their long-term success is unparalleled. Notably, she was a key driver in the establishment of Pier 21 as a national museum and reinforced the financial viability of Symphony Nova Scotia. A member of the board of governors of Dalhousie University, she has been an essential liaison between the university and the community and is dedicated to building lasting relationships within the province.”
Sherry graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in agricultural resource economics and her career includes senior executive positions in the food, power, and pharmaceutical industries.
That’s the news for now. Enjoy your summer!