LEWISTON — Since Leon Levesque refused to go to his own goodbye party, the party came to him Monday night, at least as much of a party as can be had at the end of a school committee meeting.

Levesque, who is retiring on Dec. 31, recently told his administrative assistant he would not attend a gathering in his honor. This was after Diane Duplissis had reserved a room at the Green Ladle.

“He said, ‘Have fun. I’m not going,’” Duplissis said, adding that Levesque didn’t want any money spent on him, he’d prefer that the money benefit Lewiston students.

So leaders of the Lewiston Education Fund, a private organization that raises money for students — a fund Levesque started — sent out letters last week asking for donations in his name.

But that didn’t satisfy some.

Monday night was Levesque’s last Lewiston School Committee meeting.

Rep. Peggy Rotundo stood up and said, “You can run Leon, but you can’t hide.”

She read a legislative sentiment passed by state lawmakers praising Levesque’s work for Lewiston students and students in Maine during his 39 years in education.

“This is an instance where the Legislature is recognizing someone who has been truly an outstanding educational leader in this state,” Rotundo said. Committee members are aware of what he’s done in Lewiston, she said.

“I want you to know how phenomenal he was in Augusta,” by pushing for changes in laws and regulations that helped students, she said.

One example is his idea of a revolving loan fund that provided money to qualifying school districts with school buildings that were usable, but needed a new roof or another kind of expensive improvement. Today the extra state money goes to qualifying projects in zero-interest loans, and some money that does not have to be paid back at all, depending on the percentage of state money a district receives for education.

“He was always 10 steps ahead of the Department of Education, always,” Rotundo said. “He would be there advocating for things for this community. It would take some time for people in the Department of Education to catch up with what he had in mind. Whenever Leon pushed for Lewiston, he was pushing for the entire state, because it would open doors not only for children here but children in this state. Leon, thank you.”

Committee Chairman Jim Handy presented Levesque with a large plaque that will be hung in the Leon Levesque room at Lewiston Regional Technical Center’s Green Ladle building.

“Appreciate that,” Levesque said.

Handy said he’s had many opportunities to introduce Levesque, which has been an honor. “But not as much of an honor as it is to serve with you.”

School committee members are making donations in his name to the Lewiston Education Fund, Handy said.

Tom Shannon spoke next. “I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being a friend to the children of Lewiston.”

After the speeches, a large cake was wheeled into the room. Coffee and cake were served, along with hugs and handshakes.

The cake was made by high school culinary students at the Green Ladle, a new building across from Lewiston High School that Levesque is credited with pushing to get built.

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