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Mr. Colin Carey was a talented, caring
educator who battled cancer for the past several months
until succumbing to the disease on Thanksgiving night. He
joined the Oakmont family in 2005 and quickly became a
significant member of our community because of his
intelligence, energy, and Irish wit.
Mr. Carey was an avid golfer, basketball player, and most
recently, dodge ball enthusiast. He was an energetic and
faithful Oakmont Hockey fan and often served as the game
announcer. A graduate of Boston University, where he earned
two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree, he was an
ardent supporter of BU Hockey.
To say Mr. Carey made a connection with our students is an
immense understatement. There are numerous anecdotes from
students about experiences they have had with Mr. Carey in
and out of the classroom. Most
students reflected about the
humor Mr. Carey used in the
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classroom and all noted the impact
he had on their learning.
Our memories are of a young
man who was devoted to his wife and students. He used his
wit in a positive manner that built relationships with his
students and fellow teachers. Visually we see Colin with his
favorite Scully cap, running around the gym in his stocking
feet, challenging students during an afterschool pick-up
basketball game, taunting his dodge ball opponents, playing
to the crowd while announcing a goal scored by the Oakmont
Ice Hockey team, and passionately promoting the high
standards he held for his students. His intellectual
integrity was beyond reproach. He disliked student
dependence on Wikipedia, and relied heavily on the use of
primary source materials because he wanted his students to
appreciate history for what is it is, an interpretation of
what the facts mean not just a listing of events and people.
In the classroom, Mr. Carey
demonstrated an impressive knowledge of his content area,
but more importantly, the ability to transfer his knowledge
to his students in a relevant and meaningful way that
positively resulted in student learning. He had a
soft-spoken, calm manner and an excellent rapport with his
students. He successfully tapped into his student’s
curiosity and he created an atmosphere where students felt
comfortable to explore that curiosity.
At his funeral on December 2,
his uncle Tim Phillips delivered a moving eulogy in memory
of Mr. Carey which you can read
here. For those whose lives he touched, Colin Carey will
always be remembered, and in his honor the Colin Carey
Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established. This fund
will award a scholarship to a student from Oakmont High
School who wishes to pursue a career in teaching. Colin was
passionate about educating his students and we hope that
others will be inspired by his example. Donations may be
sent care of David Uminski, Principal, Oakmont Regional High
School, 9 Oakmont Dr, Ashburnham, MA 01430.
Our thoughts and prayers go
out to Mr. Carey’s family and particularly his devoted wife,
Erin. We mourn the loss of our friend and teacher, but our
Oakmont family is a strong one and we'll support one another
during this difficult time.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
David
Uminski, Principal
Greg Smith, Assistant Principal
December 3, 2008
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