EUSTIS — Longtime SAD 58 director Tom MacDonald was remembered Tuesday as a straightforward talker who cared about children and stood up for the small school in his community.

MacDonald died Saturday at a Lewiston hospital after a long illness.

“He was the longest serving member of the school board,” Superintendent Quenten Clark said Tuesday of MacDonald’s continuous service. “He was the one who traveled the greatest distance to meetings … wherever a meeting was Tom drove. He dedicated many years. He was interested in the schools, he supported his community and he wanted us to be our best for our children and the district.”

“He cared about kids,” school board Chairman Mike Pond said. “He would get mad if newly hired staff didn’t stick around long for them,” he said. He would always ask, “‘How long do you plan to stay?'”

MacDonald served on the school board 14 years and was active until late summer when he got sick, Pond said. He had planned to resign from the board when it looked like he wasn’t going to come back for a while, he said, with the idea that he would come back when he was better.

“He wanted to come back. We thought he was coming back but it just didn’t work out,” Pond said.

He loved athletics and was a strong advocate for them, he said. MacDonald loved ball, it didn’t matter if it was baseball or basketball. He also looked out for the middle-of-the-road kids to make sure they were supported.

“He was a strong voice for them,” Pond said. “He looked out for Stratton school. If it wasn’t good for Stratton, he wouldn’t do it … You never had to worry about what Tom was thinking. He would come out and tell you. He didn’t sit on the fence. He would tell you how he was feeling and why he planned to vote the way he would.”

Stratton school Principal Lorrie Arruda said she knew MacDonald for about 15 years.

“He was an educator, but did not stay in the profession, which is why I think he was drawn to the school,” she said. “He was a town historian and brought his knowledge of Eustis to the children in programs early on, back in the 90s and early 2000s. Tom was an advocate and cheerleader for Stratton school, its sports teams, teachers and for all our children and programs.”

He didn’t speak often when on the school board, she said, but when he did, he was respected and listened to.

“He just wanted fairness and equity for what happened to our little school,” she said. “He took great pride in Stratton school’s many accomplishments. His dedication and support will be truly missed.”

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