Page 50 - Newsletter_Spring_2022

Meet Your Board - Behind the Scenes

Written by Rachel Fitzpatrick '93

This is the sixth installment in a series of articles to introduce, honor and thank a special group of individuals. These
individuals have been, or are currently, members of the HHSAA board. Many have been members of the board for a long
period of time and a few for only a couple years, but all have added to HHSAA and where we are today as an organization.
The first five installments looked at 10 of our board members; Lauren Peabody Fitzpatrick ’86, founder; Nancy Ketch ’82,
current president; Paul Porter ’51, RIP former Gala chair; Nancy Russell Hutchinson ’56, RIP; Jerry York ’70, “strong but
silent”; Patricia Donovan Fitzpatrick ’63, current secretary; Lorraine Davis Quint ’55, HHSAA class rep since 1997; Jon
McLaughlin ’73, Newsletter Editor; Peter Fitzpatrick ’59, “quiet ideas”; and Rachel Fitzpatrick ’93, treasurer. My apologies but
this installment will only look at one person. Not only have I been busy, but the COVID spikes have not made it easy either.
Maybe this summer I will be able to sit down with a few for future installments. Hope you enjoy this one!

Karen Eleiott Donato ’69

2003-Present / Class of 1969 Newsletter Rep

Karen is the daughter of Kenneth A ’41 and Lois (Briggs)
Eleiott. “Eleiott” is the correct spelling; Karen made sure I
had it correct. She stated that her father always said with a
laugh, “this is the correct spelling, other ways are wrong.” Ken Karen Eleiott ’69 Senior
was a potato farmer in Littleton and manager of Monticello Picture
Potato Shippers, while Lois, originally from Canada, was a
stay at home mom, working on the farm as needed. There
were two boys in the family. Older brother, Malcolm
“Mackey” ’62, who after HHS went to UMO for a degree Karen did her student teaching in RSU #29 and signed a
in Agricultural Economics. He joined Albert Fitzpatrick in a teaching contract with Superintendent Hamilton Giberson
trucking company and then drove for Pottle’s Trucking. Since for $6,500/year, as a first-grade teacher. During her career,
retirement he plants a big garden and helps local farmers she participated in many organizations for the district, and
when an extra hand is needed. Then there was Peter, five years was spokesperson for a major two-year arts grant for the
younger than Karen. He passed away of leukemia in 1964 at district called Renaissance of Rural Arts, with a dozen faculty
the age of 8. members. She helped organize the first high school sports

After high school Karen planned to attend a lab course offered booster club.
by A. R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle that fall. Karen taught first grade for 28 years in Houlton before
She began the course, but had to withdraw shortly after. retiring in 2001. During this time, she and John became
She was recovering from a complicated surgery of ruptured parents of daughter, Jill ’93. As a coach’s wife, she was busy
appendix and was not strong enough to continue. As she attending boys baseball games and girls basketball games.
built up her strength, she worked for her dad as a secretary Karen spoke fondly about the memories of hosting team
at the Shippers until January of 1970. She enrolled at Ricker suppers and Christmas parties. She created booklets for the
College for the spring term and transferring to the University players that included stats, clipped articles and photos as
of Maine Presque Isle in ’71 to complete an elementary keepsakes.
education degree. During this time she married John Donato,
from Massachusetts, a student at Ricker. He had just accepted Karen was also active in the community. She was a member
a teaching position at Houlton High School. They were of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in town, a member of the
married 24 years. Houlton Regional Hospital Auxiliary and helped revitalize
the Miss Houlton Pageant in 1979, ‘80 and ‘81. She often

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