‘Bikers’ say farewell to one of their own
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

RUMFORD – Stepping through the doors of Rumford Elementary School into the office Friday morning was like walking into a biker convention.

The tough-looking crowd of teachers and staff, some in 1960s biker garb with hand-painted tattoos on their arms, had dressed up (or down) to honor Harley-Davidson aficionado Jim Cormier.

On Friday, Cormier, a longtime SAD 43 custodian, bus driver and mechanic was honored with a retirement party. Aug. 8 actually will be his last day on the job. He then has seven weeks of vacation time remaining and retires effective Sept. 29.

“The kids were great and the teachers were great,” said Cormier, 60, of Mexico, a 34-year employee.

Reading specialist Linda Howe said it has been great working with Cormier, who made every school day a delight.

Joking and caring, too

“He’s a wonderful guy,” Howe said. “He’s a joker, he’s got a good sense of humor and he’s a caring guy. He’s a hard worker who does the job right the first time around. So we’re going to miss him and the kids, too, they’re going to miss him.”

School secretary Penny Carrier agreed.

“He’s awesome,” she added. “He’s a Mister Fix-It at the drop of a hat.”

Starting at 9 a.m., students and staff gathered in the cafeteria to pay tribute to him. The Student Council chronicled his life in a This-is-Your-Life skit.

Then first-grade students sang him, appropriately, “Wheels on the Bus.” Staff members chimed in with their own song, “Born to be Wild,” for Cormier, who rides a Harley-Davidson FLHT bike.

Prior to refreshments, Cormier received motorcycle-related gifts from the Mountain Valley Education Association and Parents-Teachers Organization.

The whole school then sang him a retirement song to the tune of “Happy Birthday.”

“I’m very, very pleased,” Cormier said of the gifts, skits and accolades showered upon him.”

Before starting work for SAD 43 in September 1969 as a mechanic and bus driver at Abbott School in Mexico, Cormier served three years in the Navy as a boiler technician.

He worked aboard a troop ship, the USS Guam, which carried troops bound for Vietnam. After leaving the military, Cormier worked in a garage as a mechanic and did a short firefighting stint with the Rumford Fire Department, then took the SAD 43 job.

“It was a cleaner job and it had benefits, which was why I got in. I’ve always done my work the same way. I learned the old way – hard work – and that’s the way I’ve always done it,” Cormier said.

He then worked as head mechanic at Meroby Elementary School in Mexico before being hired at Rumford Elementary as head custodian and bus driver.

A fast 34 years

“I don’t regret nothing of this job. I’ve really liked it. I’ve enjoyed working with the crew – they’re a nice bunch of guys. And the teachers here, they’re just wonderful,” Cormier said.

Likewise, Rumford Elementary School students think he’s wonderful, too. Especially, students Cormier took on as helpers and apprentices. Fifth-grader Billy Moulton proudly identified himself as “Jim’s helper.”

Long after the party, students continued to bring Cormier posters and signs they’d drawn for him.

“Those 34 years, they went by fast. I’ve had a good relationship with everyone and I’m going to miss them, but I’ll return to visit,” said Cormier, who was looking forward to some traveling on his Harley and his remaining seven weeks of vacation time.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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