News
Antonia G. Paradis was the principal at Pittsfield Middle High School (formerly Pittsfield High School) from 1969 to 1973.
GOFFSTOWN, N.H. — Antonio G. Paradis, Ph.D., 76, of Goffstown, departed this life on Aug. 31, 2010, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital, Lebanon, after demonstrating exceptional courage in the face of dealing with complications from surgery. Born in Winslow, Maine, he was the son of Anthony and Florence (Vigue) Paradis.
Tony is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Janice (Rogers) Paradis; a son, Bruce Paradis, his wife, Debra, and their children, Connor and Loren of Escondido, Calif.; his son Peter’s son Devon, his sister Abbey and their mother, Megan Hoff McElroy of New Zealand. Dr. Paradis is also survived by a sister, Patricia Pelletier of Winslow, and brother Larry Paradis of Raymond, Maine, and several cousins, nieces and nephews who affectionately referred to him as "Uncle Tone." His first son Peter, who passed in January 2000, and sister Theresa Droin predeceased Tony.
For the past 20 years, Dr. Paradis served as executive director of SERESC (Southeastern Regional Education Service Center) of Bedford. As the executive director at SERESC, Dr. Paradis established, developed and implemented several major initiatives that have had a profound impact upon New Hampshire school districts. Under Dr. Paradis’ leadership, the vision of a statewide collaboration among schools has become a reality. During his tenure, SERESC had grown from a small, financially challenged institution to a fully interactive network for the sharing of intellectual resources including educational communities, libraries, businesses, parents, colleges and universities and communities at large.
Dr. Paradis was a teacher and coach in Jackman, Maine, and Greenville, Maine, high schools. He was Principal of Schools at Monson Academy. In 1969, the family moved to Barnstead, and he was appointed principal of Pittsfield Schools and held that position for four years. In 1973 he was appointed superintendent of schools in Goffstown. He retired in 1985 after serving 25 years in education. He became a commercial real estate agent and managed and owned many apartments in the city of Manchester.
Dr. Paradis was an active charter member of the Goffstown Rotary Club, president of New Hampshire School Administrators Association, president of Southwesters Superintendent Association, member of the American Association of School Administrators, New Hampshire Superintendent Association, New England Association of School Superintendents and Phi Delta Kappa.
Dr. Paradis graduated from Winslow High School, class of 1953. He was captain of both the football and basketball teams. He received degrees from University of Maine, University of New Hampshire and Pacific Southwestern University. His passions were his family as well as his profession, reading, daily early morning workouts at Gold’s Gym, spending time with his family at Tall Timbers in Pittsburg, and at his summer home in Silver Lake Park, where he enjoyed fly fishing and kayaking.
In honor of his vision and leadership to the education of youth and adults, a memorial service will be held at the SERESC Conference Center, 29 Commerce Drive, Bedford, on Saturday Sept. 18, 2010, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Antonio G. Paradis Scholarship Fund for the Brentwood School, c/o SERESC, 29 Commerce Drive, Bedford, NH 03110
Mrs. Ames taught in Pittsfield for many years before retiring in 1971
It was Harriet Richardson Ames’ dream to earn her bachelor’s degree in education. She finally reached that milestone, nearly three weeks after achieving another: her 100th birthday.
Please read: NH teacher, 100, gets degree a day before dying
Pittsfield High School Alumni Association News
Did you know that there is an established Alumni Association at Pittsfield High School? Any person who attended or graduated from PHS, PMHS or the Academy is automatically a member.
The Alumni Association was officially formed in May 2006 and our mission is to “foster a spirit of loyalty and commitment among PHS, the community and the alumni. The Alumni Association shall support the continued growth and development of the school and encourage and coordinate activities that would benefit the interests of PHS and the community.”
Currently the officers of the Alumni Association are: President – Tobi (Gray) Chassie, ’73; Vice President – Carole (Fife) Richardson, ’69; Secretary – Andrea (Grainger) Riel, ’84; Treasurer – Louie Houle, ’72; Membership Secretary – Sandy Bucknam, ’73; Historian – Ted Mitchell, ’68; and Members at Large – Paula (Nickerson) Driscoll, ’86 and Chris Ward, ’82.
We meet 4 times per year usually September, January, March and June at 6:30 pm at the PMHS Media (Library) Center. Members are ALWAYS welcome and encouraged to attend. Please check the website for meeting dates.
The Alumni Association has provided a $500 scholarship to a (PMHS) graduate starting in 2007. The past recipients have been Nicole Parker in ‘07; Kelsey Metcalf in ’08 and Sarah Buchanan in ’09. We have also sponsored a graduation breakfast for the Senior Class. A pancake, sausage, fruit and drink breakfast is provided for the class and is a chance for the Alumni Association to introduce ourselves to the class members and ask for their involvement as they move on to further schooling, the Service or employment.
We have had a presence at various local events (such as Old Home Day, Balloon Rally and the Alumni Basketball games) to collect current names, addresses and email contact information to add to the database. Our goal is to update and keep current contact information for classes planning reunions.
There are no dues collected. We do send an annual letter (which hopefully will soon become a newsletter) soliciting donations to help defray costs associated with certain projects that the Alumni Association is or will be working on. The funds collected are also used for the annual scholarship.
Check out the Alumni Association’s website at http://pittsfield-nh.com/sau/. (click Alumni tab) It’s constantly being worked on. We’re also on Facebook.
The latest project the Alumni Association is undertaking is another ALL CLASS REUNION. Save the date of July 17, 2010 (Old Home Day!) The Reunion will be a Meet and Greet openhouse style at PMHS with a chance to tour both facilities (PMHS and PES); visit with classmates and others; enjoy some refreshments and (we hope) a chicken BBQ dinner.
Anyone who is interested in helping with the Reunion or joining the planning committee, please call Andi Riel at 435-6346 or Paula Driscoll at 435-8272. Also, plan to join the Alumni Association and attend one of our meetings – we’d love to see new faces and we welcome new ideas!
Shirley Allen Wins Raffle
Shirley Allen from the class of 1956 won the Pittsfield High School Alumni Association raffle. Representing the Executive Board of the Pittsfield High School Alumni Association, Tobi Chassie, president, left, and Paula Driscoll, member-at-large, are shown above following the drawing of the winning ticket.
The raffle began during the Old Home Day festivities in July. Tickets continued to be sold throughout the summer and fall. The drawing was held on Friday, November 27, at the alumni basketball games.
The Alumni Association collected $319 from this fundraising event. Its members are grateful to everyone who participated. The money will be used to support its annual scholarship to a graduating senior and the all-class reunion, scheduled for Old Home Day on July 17, 2010.
Ms. Allen will receive the original serigraph of the cupola on Pittsfield Middle High School for winning the raffle. The serigraph was created and donated by acclaimed artist William Mitchell, the art teacher at Pittsfield Middle High School. Check out Mr. Mitchell’s Web site at www.mitchellserigraphprints.com.
Pittsfield High School Class of 1959 Celebrates 50th Reunion
Front Row, Left to Right: Deanna Drolet, Sr. Rene, Paula Corliss Myers, Elizabeth Barton Hast, Florence Philbrick MacKay, Sandra Davis, Jeannette Vien Stevens, Judith Locke Phillips, Holly Hast Bickford, Patricia Page Mulkhey, Gayle Aycock Whittemore, Joy Pennock MacDonald and Yolande James VanZanten. Back Row, Left to Right: Sherideth Cram Seeley, Barbara Stock Woodward, James Thyng, John Pinkham, Kenny Ayles, Robert Plante, Larry Pinkham, Robert Raney, Retta Presby Weaver, Gretchen Lindberg Lance, Bruce Yeaton and Leone Hoover Wilson. Missing from the picture were: Gloria Aubertin Kuningas and Patricia Farmer Lowther.
The Pittsfield High School Class of 1959 celebrated their 50th Reunion in late August at the Dell-Lea Country Club in Chichester. Tours of the grade and high schools were followed by hours of sharing fond memories and telling stories of our diverse lives. We welcomed fellow classmates from around New England, New York, Florida, Oregon, Texas and Louisiana.
Our photo was taken by classmate Robert Raney.