By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — At their Tuesday, Jan. 13 school board meeting, members approved the placement of a granite bench and purchase of books that will memorialize a beloved educator at the Dolbeare School who lost her life after a valiant battle with cancer.
For 28 years, Jeanne Hudd worked tirelessly in her job as a third grade teacher at the Dolbeare School, according to those who were her friends and colleagues.
Hudd also was a reading specialist and served as assistant principal of the school.
But when Hudd was given the news that she had contracted stage 4 pancreatic cancer around 2012, she knew the career she had devoted 28 years of her life to would be coming to an end.
Hudd’s illness brought many changes, including an earlier retirement than she had planned. She lost her battle with cancer in September 2014 at age 64, but those she left behind at the Dolbeare School and in the community will not allow the disease that claimed her life to steal the memory of her, too.
Hudd bravely fought her illness with strength, dignity and perseverance, according to five friends who wrote a letter dated Jan. 2, 2015 to the school board and board of selectmen seeking their approval to place a granite bench at the school in her memory as well as purchase books.
Hudd’s friends who wrote the letter are Gail Miller-Shapiro, Karen Swales, Sheila Robertson, Kathleen Uva and Susan Siebeking.
Memorializing Hudd does not stop with a bench. The group also wants to purchase books for the Dolbeare School Library that would focus on places Hudd visited around the world.
“Many of us were touched by her friendship, work ethic and love of teaching,” her friends wrote. “Jeanne was an avid reader and traveler who enjoyed sharing her adventures with us. We loved her stories, seeing her photos from around the world and listening to the plans she made for future journeys.
“We have been fundraising for the last two months and have raised enough money for this purchase. With your approval we would like to purchase the books and make this donation to the Dolbeare library in the near future.”
The granite bench Hudd’s friends are hoping to purchase as a memorial to Hudd would be placed on the grounds of the school, possibly next to the student garden or in front of the building. Those working on the memorial wrote in their letter: “Although we did not see Jeanne every day, we kept in touch by calls, visits to her home, visits from her to our school, helping out with her treatments and supporting her the best way we knew how — with laughter and friendship.”
Hudd’s friends said they would continue their fundraising efforts outside of school to completely pay for the bench and its installation.
There will be no cost to the school district for the tribute to Hudd, as all money raised will be used to fund the purchases.
