Faculty Updates

 Where are they now? 

Tyrone Brown, AHS language arts teacher

Mr. Brown is currently advising the MIPA organization (Michigan Interscholastic Press Association) at Covert High School.

Jack Buist, AHS history teacher (1951-1988)

Jack Douglas Buist, Sr. age 75 of Allegan, passed away Saturday, September 20, 2003 at Spectrum Health, Blodgett Campus. Jack was born September 1, 1928 in Grand Rapids, MI, the youngest son of David and Grace (Murray) Buist. Jack earned his BA and MA at Western Michigan University after serving in the 11th Airborne Division of the U.S. Army from 1946-1948. He retired from teaching at Allegan High School in 1988. During his 37 years of teaching and coaching, he was privileged to have touched the lives of hundreds of young people. Left to cherish his memory, are his wife of 52 years, Maxine (House) Buist; his children, Greg & Dawn Buist, Susan Buist, Judy & Joel Grams, and Jack Jr. and his partner, Kathy Kelly; 3 grandchildren, Meredith Buist, Curtis Channells, and Jason Gant; 5 great grandchildren; mother-in-law, Lorraine House; brothers-in-law, Thomas House, Chuck & Sue House; sister-in-law, Teresa Buist; several nieces and nephews, and many good friends. He was preceded in death by 4 brothers and 1 sister.

Gary Ellis, AHS Athletic Director

Mr. Ellis became the new grandfather of a baby girl, Elliana Joy Oram, on April 30, 2009 (his second grandchild).   She is the daughter of his daughter Heather and her husband Jeff.  Mr. Ellis continues to serve AHS as Athletic Director - over 20 years in that position.

You can find him on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1257655435.

Mary Gilligan, AHS typing teacher

 (March 28, 1925 - February 10, 2010) Allegan, MI died Wednesday, February 10 , 2010 at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. Mrs. Gilligan was born March 28, 1925 in Hillsdale, the daughter of Theron and Etolah (Stearns) Malarney. On August 20, 1955 she married Lawrence Gilligan. She received her bachelors degree in business and her masters degree in business education from Western Michigan University, where she was a member of Sigma Tau Chi and Phi Beta Kappa sororities. She taught business in the Allegan Public Schools, retiring after 32 years of service. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Allegan Elks. She was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling, cooking and entertaining friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence, on December 19, 1963, and by her twin sister, Frances Henkes. Surviving are her sons, Kevin L. and Thomas J. Gilligan, both of Allegan; a granddaughter, Katherine L. Gilligan of Allegan; a sister, Phyllis (Albin) Kiella of Allegan [3rd grade teacher at Dawson elementary]; a brother, T. J. (Marge) Malarney Jr. of East Lansing; several nieces and nephews and special friends Jan Lovejoy and Kandi Gibson, both of Allegan. Friends may call from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Gorden Funeral Residence Allegan Chapel. A memorial mass will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Alan Jorgensen, Celebrant. Interment will be at Blessed Sacrament Cemetery, Allegan. Memorial contributions may be made to Dollars for Scholars or the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Caterina Kenworthy, AHS Latin & Spanish teacher

Mrs/Sra Kenworthy, born in 1921, moved to Foley, Alabama soon after her retirement from AHS in 1986. Well into her 90s, she remained quite active both there and here in Michigan with various farming organizations, including being a financial benefactor of the Michigan Flywheelers Museum.

Brian McFalone, AHS principal (1987-89 ff.)

"I have retired to the golf course and coaching high school hockey."

Mark Pentecost, Allegan Junior High math teacher

Mr. Pentecost became wealthy enough through Excel Telecommunications, a multi-level-marketing business he joined in his father's "downline", to retire from Allegan Public Schools early. He is presently the founder and principal of It Works! (https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2013/11/26/high-school-teacher-turned-multi-millionaire-it-works/).

Mrs Reading, Allegan language arts teacher

Mrs. Reading left the education field when it started getting too computer-intensive and is now working at Gordon Foods on West Main in Kalamazoo.  

Still teaching at Allegan (as of 2018)....

Sue Hammer Joe Munn Dave Riker Murray Rose

 

Roger Siewert Tom Smythe Jim Stewart Jeff Secor (AMS)