Page 45 - Newsletter_Winter_2020

When asked about a special memory with HHSAA, Jerry in themselves and in others who receive from HHSAA. These
spoke of Paul Porter ’51, also a former board member, and “others” are not necessarily scholarship recipients but could
how inspiring Paul was. Jerry went on to say that you could be other alum who were able to finally reconnect with old
disagree with Paul on something they both had strong friends from HHS because of a HHSAA event.
feelings about, but then they could agree to disagree and still If a person is considering being a board member, Jerry
be good friends. Jerry admired how hard-working Paul was, says they can put in as much or as little time as they like,
especially on the Galas, and the results proved it. depending on their interest level. The board is always looking
Jerry’s vision for HHSAA is to get more younger people, for new ideas. Jerry continues to say that “new blood” does
or “new blood”, involved in the organization so it will be not have to be on the board but bring skills to the newsletter
around for another 25 years or more. He went on to say the or fundraising or multi-year reunion by volunteering. Maybe
endowment is all set up and strong with over $1.5 million, you are thinking of being a phone caller for the annual
but many of the current board members are getting to a phone-a-thon or would like to write an article for the next
point of burn out. Jerry suggests new ideas are needed and newsletter or maybe you might be a rep for your class. Reach
suggested there might be something being worked on now. out to HHSAA and let us know your interest, we will make
Even with that, Jerry still believes people can find satisfaction sure to connect you with the correct person.

Patricia Donovan Fitzpatrick ’63

Current Secretary/Class Rep

Many of you know Patty’s name or have spoken with her either via phone or
correspondence, but to me she is the figure who has always been there, my mother. So
please excuse my bias throughout this article.

Patricia “Patty” Donovan Fitzpatrick graduated from HHS in 1963. She is the only
daughter of the late John & Beryl (McKeen) Donovan ‘33, and sister to Michael
Donovan ‘57. After graduation, Patty went to Lewiston to study cosmetology before
returning home to marry her high school sweetheart, Thomas Fitzpatrick ’63, in
November 1964. Patty spent most of her time as a homemaker and raising four children
(Mark Fitzpatrick ’85, Eric Fitzpatrick ’87, Rachel Fitzpatrick ’93 and Ryan Fitzpatrick
’97), but Patty also did many side jobs from keeping the books for Tom’s trucking and
lime spreading business to different seamstress jobs creating formal dresses, window
drapes, knitting hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters, etc. In the early 1990s, Patty was even
secretary at St. Mary’s School, where she had gone to grade school, and worked with
Lauren Peabody Fitzpatrick ’85, who taught there during that time. Today, Patty continues to keep the trucking books, but
Tom has retired and their son, Mark, has taken over the business. Patty continues to knit, sew, and has even quilted several
quilts; some she has found and finished from other family members. She has also hooked several rugs with a local group of
ladies who gather at the Houlton Recreation Center weekly during the winter months. Patty keeps herself busy.

One of Patty’s special memories of HHS is a particular teacher: Mrs. Mildred Rutledge, who taught English. Mrs. Rutledge
also taught at St. Mary’s School where Patty attended. Patty says Mrs. Rutledge was always kind to her and her family as they
lived in the same neighborhoods both at the airport and on Nickerson Lake. Patty and Mrs. Rutledge had many personal
interactions between school and within the community.

From the beginning of HHSAA in 1997, Patty first contributed as a class rep for the class of 1963, connecting with her
classmates, collecting addresses and news for the newsletter publication. Patty has also been involved with her class and
organizing their reunions over the years. She also recalls being part of the HHSAA group which did the first newsletter mailing
out of the Houlton Chamber of Commerce office. Over the years, the newsletter process has simplified and become easier to
complete. Patty speaks about the changes to the address database and how technology has helped with this process. Some may
have noticed the last newsletter did not come in an envelope, HHSAA decided to start using a magazine format eliminating
the need for a group to stuff and label the newsletter each time. Patty says she will not miss that, but I know she will look back
at those times fondly. The more recent mailings, I was a part of and learned more about how she had to organize the envelopes
after labeling into buckets by zip code and presort/first class mailing categories, and complete paperwork for the large mailing
with counts for each category before taking the envelopes to the Houlton Post Office for mailing. Thanks to David Schools ‘82

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