Page 31 - Spring 2024

Class News, continued...

Maine. After their divorce, October 13th of this year. Her from Boston College School
she lived with each of her connection to Houlton starts of Nursing in 1959 with a BS
parents, her grandparents, with her family, George, and and in 1961 with an MS in
George and Mini at Crescent Minnie Russell, owning the Nursing. She was inducted
Park in Houlton, Maine, band stand at Nickerson Lake. into the Catherine Laboure
and sometimes, complete Mom credited her Houlton High School of Nursing Wall of
strangers. It was just before experience as critical to her Fame in 2018, acknowledging
high school that Margaret career moving forward with her contributions to her
settled back to her hometown a robust experience at Keene profession.
of Houlton to reconnect State College, her teaching She held many positions
with family and friends, “the position as a third-grade throughout her career as a
Houlton Girls”. One of her teacher and her 12-year career nurse and health educator.
Houlton friends, Margaret as a state representative from Much of her work was
McClusky Cleary, now of her town of Swanzey, New focused on helping to
Boulder, Colorado, became Hampshire. She always said - if in 1952, Catherine Laboure impact the vocational lives of
like a sister and was Margaret I had not gone to Houlton - School of Nursing in 1955, visually impaired and blind
Ann’s best friend for life. Their those things probably would and Boston College School consumers through her work
lives intertwined for decades never have been possible.” of Nursing 1959 BS and 1961 at the Carroll Center for the
with visits, phone calls, letters, Sadly, her dear friend, Margaret MS. She married Gerald N. Blind. She was credited with
and video chats. Cleary, recently passed away “Gerry” Cleary on December bringing light to those who
After graduating high school as well. 29, 1962, in Dorchester, were engulfed in darkness.
Massachusetts. They had
in 1952, Margaret made the two children, Jennifer, and She remained connected
pivotal decision to attend Kevin. Margaret held many to her work for the Carroll
Keene State College because nursing positions: Madigan Center, developing and
she was offered a job in the Memorial Hospital, C.L.S.N., teaching a distance education
dining hall. She went on to Sudbury Public Schools and series. She proudly wrote her
complete her bachelor’s in The Carroll Center for the final professional article, of
education in 1956 and her Blind (35 years). She moved to many, last year, at the age of
Master’s in 1964. Keene State Boulder, Colorado to live with 88 and even in her final week
is where she would meet her her daughter Jennifer in 2009, of life, she would say, “I’m still
future husband, Murray, and consulting with the Colorado a nurse, once a nurse, always
together this joyous union Department of Vocational a nurse”
was captured in numerous Rehabilitation, teaching Devoted wife to the late
photo albums, providing MARGARET CLEARY online courses in diabetes Gerry Cleary. Loving mother
fodder for good stories and Living until her 90th year, and vison impairment and to Jennifer and the late
endless laughs. Highlights Margaret Cleary passed away continued as a Rehabilitation Kevin Cleary. Cherished
include: two children, on March 5, 2024. Margaret Consultant Nurse. grandmother to Kevanna
Heather, and Jonathan. was born on May 11, 1934, Cleary, Micah Cleary, Dorje
Editor’s Note: Margaret’s in Houlton, Maine, to James Margaret was a devoted wife, Dolma, Joshua Harrison and
sister, mother, grandmother,
daughter, Heather, wrote in Donald “Don” and Marion aunt, and cherished mentor Jakob Harrison. She was
to tell us: “Houlton High was a Irene McCluskey and grew up to all that were lucky enough adored by many nieces and
vital part of my mom’s history on Kelleran Street. She had to know her. She graduated nephews, including Bob and
- just last summer she was a three brothers (Patrick, James, from Houlton High School Mary Ellen’s children: Mary
part of a group that continued and Robert) and one sister and Catherine Laboure Liz Wall, Doug Small, Jill
to meet from HHS of 1952 (Mary Ellen) and graduated School of Nursing in 1952 as Small, Chris Small, Mary Jo
via Zoom of all things. Sadly, from Houlton High School valedictorian. She graduated McCluskey, Kathy Schofield,
my mother passed away on

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