LIVERMORE FALLS – “Learn the skill of reading. It opens the avenues to everything else,” said 77-year-old honorary high school diploma recipient Lionel Castonguay during the Livermore Falls graduation ceremony Saturday.

“I hope life is good to you. Be good to life,” he told the graduates as he stood at the podium in full graduation garb. A total of 58 students received their diplomas, including Castonguay and three Adult Education students.

Castonguay, like many of his generation, left school in 1939 to help on the family farm. He was in the 8th grade. Castonguay and his wife raised eight children, all of whom he made sure graduated high school. Four went on to college.

SAD 36 Superintendent Terry Despres said Castonguay had a “passion for knowledge.” Despres said Castonguay dedicated his life to himself and his family, but mostly to the community. Castonguay was in the diary business until 4 years ago. He is now an organic farmer and caretaker of 45 dairy cows. Castonguay has also served on several town boards.

In her welcome speech, Katie LaFreniere told the crowd she welcomed them with joy because they were graduating and with sadness because many of them would be departing. “Life can only be understood by looking at the past; but it can only be lived by looking to the future,” LaFreniere said.

During his valedictorian address, Andre Mercier told graduates to cherish the good times and learn from the bad ones. “Save everything in your past to both a floppy disk and the hard drive, because you can’t afford to lose it,” Mercier said.

Salutatorian James Foster said a lot of people consider the class of 2004 “a misfit class. Small and chaotic.” But, he said, “when the final hour approaches, we use our strengths and talents to pull through.”

Foster said there are many regrets “at a time like this.” Regrets of conversations not held, and time not spent together. “So, before we leave, before our futures catch up to us, let us pretend that time is standing still, just for an instant. Let us make believe that we are the only ones in the room. Turn to your neighbor and thank them for being part of your life,” Foster implored the crowd.

Finally, Foster repeated the words he put in the 2004 year book, a quote from Roman poet Ovid. “Omnia mutantur, nihil interit. Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost.”

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