To My Classmates
To my classmates:
I would like to thank you all for making Saturday such a special event and what will be one of my all-time memories! For those that couldn’t attend, hopefully, you can be there the next time we all get to share a great night.
I would particularly like to thank those that helped to put this together:
Bobby Baldrian, Kathy Halleran Burke, Michael Huvane, Jeannie Fowler Hinchey, Helen Fallon Hallinan, Hilary Brown McKenna and Mike “Scoey” Mitchell. Their enthusiasm, their help and their patience in putting up with me will never be forgotten and always be appreciated.
I need to thank one non-classmate in particular – my wife Maureen. She has put up with me for almost 31 married years and 38 years in total. She has supported me in every way in any crazy idea I might have and believe me; I have had some crazy ones! She has always had faith in me and I can never repay her or express just what she means to me. She has blessed me with three beautiful children and allowed me to follow my dreams.
As some of you are aware, I was honored to serve a large number of years as President of the Board of Education of the town that we live in. My town never had a high school and we tuitioned our students to the neighboring district for their education. It became a goal of mine to see that a high school was built during my years of service on the Board. Maureen never questioned my need to do this and supported me in every way as each step of this huge process was undertaken. To make a long story short, Putnam Valley High School was built and will celebrate its’ 10th anniversary this September.
The reason I tell this story is because while the school is physically made from brick and steel, its’ character was built on my memories of Tolentine.
Building a school from scratch is a daunting process. As a person that is not an educator, it is doubly hard. I based every decision from what type of teacher to hire, to what the classrooms should look like, to what I wanted our graduating students prepared for on our high school years. I wanted to build a school where everyone looked out for one another because of their common bonds. I wanted a school where no matter someone’s intelligence level, their sexual orientation or any of the other stupid labels that are attached mattered. I wanted a school where there was a sense of family. I am happy to say Putnam Valley High School is that place.
In your own way, you have all influenced me and my school in some way. There is no doubt that, because of you all, I am who I am today. I am also proud to say that without knowing it, you are all part of the emotional infrastructure of my 4th child, the high school. I am hopeful that these HS graduates find the same joy with their classmates that I found in knowing you all.
I am proud to have spent my time at Tolentine. I am proud to have spent my time with all of you. I am blessed to have spent a wonderful reunion night with the people you have all become. I am proud to be a member of a special group – the CLASS of ’75!
Pat