Table Of ContentFaculty
Seniors
In Rememberance of Mrs. McGowan
^^Success “F/j Free''
”
To laugh often and much; Refrain: Free, free, free. Fly, t1y,
To win the respect of intelligent fly, tly free.
people and the affection of Night set on my young life.
children; Now I feel peace and no strife.
To earn the appreciation of I lived with few regrets.
honest critics and endure the And from those I’ll learn yet.
betrayal of false friends; Refrain
To appreciate beauty, to find the Souls I’ve touched and who’ve
best in others; touched mine.
To leave the world a bit better, Like the sweet touch of divine.
whether by a healthy child, a I leave a legacy of love.
garden patch of a redeemed social That I enjoy from above.
conditions; Refrain
To know even on life has To those I leave behind.
breathed easier because you have Lead with your heart not your
lived; mind.
This is to have succeeded. Though my body’s disappeared.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson My spirit remains so near.
Shirley Ann Huckins McGowan
Refrain
April 23, 1947 - October 16, 2002
“Thank you to everyone who has touched and -Cory McGowan
influenced my life."
Sam “Shirley ” McGowan was a well-respected member of the faculty at North Andover High School. In her capacity as
teacher and department chair, Sam worked tirelessly on behalf of our students to ensure that our health curriculum and
initiatives were the very’ best. Her passion and commitment to her work in the area of health resulted in significant programs
that continue to have a postitive impact on our students.
In her role as health lead teacher, Sam established very strong relationships with North Andover Youth Serx'ices and was
instrumental in developing with them a number of specific programs for the high school including “Life After North
Andover” as well as school assemblies on such issues as date rape and sexual harrassment. Sam possessed both leadership
and management skills to implement these programs K-12.
Sam McGowan was a compassionate, generous, and courageous human being. She was a teacher, administrator, wife,
mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, mother-in-law, and friend. Sam and her family taught us all how to handle cata¬
strophic illness with love and dignity. She taught us how to live and how to die. Sam, we miss you. -.Mrs. Nicholson
Sam with her two granddaughters, Lexy and Casi Sam and her husband, Paul, on their sailboat last September
To the Students and Staff,
1 want to thank you from our family and all who loved Sam for honoring her in this way. As her husband, 1 can tell you that
she was a very dedicated educator. She thought of herself first and foremost as a health educator. She worked for over twenty
years in that field always pursuing programs and resources to promote and support the health and well being of students and
staff
The lesson that she gave to all of us is that if you believe in something then never stop pursuing your passion and be willing
to work everyday towards progress. Sam really liked and appreciated the students she taught and interacted with at North
Andover. She believed in them and had high expectations for them. She was commited to helping students to develop the
knowledge, skills and abilities to make healthy choices in their lives. She was very proud of her work and of all of you.
Outside of her education work, Sam was a wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother and friend. Family was very important
to her. She taught many of us about love, kindness, consideration, caring, dedication, friendship and commitment. She had many
blessings in her life and lived it to the very fullest up to the very end.
1 want to thank all the people in the North Andover school community who gave so much support, love and care to her during
her courageous battle with cancer and especially during the final weeks and days of her life. Your cards, phone calls, visits,
flowers, gifts and emails were a wonderful part of the final months of her life. I also want to remind you that the Sam McGowan
Health Education Fund is dedicated to keeping alive her commitment and passion to the health and well-being of students and
staff in the North Andover Public Schools.
Again, thank you. 1 am sure that she is very touched and honored by your thoughtfulness. We hope that the future will bring
many blessings and much love to the class of 2003.
With Warmest Regards and Love,
The Huckins-McGowan family
Dear Sam,
Do you remember our "teddy bear” talks, 1 remember as we talked about teddies, we wondered aloud.
As around this old building we frantically walked? What is this magic with which they are seemingly endowed?
To these cuddly ‘hug holders ’ we were both drawn. Where it comes from 1 cannot hazzard to guess.
How I will miss the gab these teddies did spawn. But healing comfort, they do seem to possess.
Some of it was quite serious, ethics and such; So, Sam, as a rememberance of how well you did live.
But most was just caring, supportive type stuff. These ‘teddies of comfort ’ we ’ll continue to give.
How I will miss your quiet offer of support. And I send you a teddy, a winged wish and a prayer.
Your smile and your understanding on things of import. Knowing 1 ’ll see you again someday, somewhere.
Love, Diane Bassett
Sam as an honored guest at the “Light the Night” fundraiser for cancer
research, where over S20,000 was raised in September. She rode the “route”
of 3.5 miles in her wheelchair. 3
Dr. William E. Allen Dr. Ronald Binkney Mrs. Susan Nicholson
Superintendent Asst. Superintendent Principal
Mrs. Karen Hallbauer Mr. Bert Noyes Mr. John Stephenson
Asst. Principal Asst. Principal Athletic Director
If you were locked in the
school with no one around
what would you do?
66
- -
Try and hang upside
Knock down the
down from the ceiling
bubble rooms.
like Spiderman.
-Pete Gatto
-Kevin Small
ft
6
