2012
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Arthur Bruce, Community Service & Philanthropy
Arthur Bruce graduated from Nute High School with the class of 1918. Both Arthur and his wife were long time members of the Community Church and served the in various ways, especially in Sunday school. The church benefitted greatly from his substantial philanthropic gifts which were directed to be used in specific ways some of which included: Christian Education, purchase of a parcel of land in Lebanon for a ball field, supplementing the Pastor’s salary and financial assistance to any member of the congregation who pursued education to become a lawyer. He also gave generously to the Boy Scouts of America.
Earl Wentworth, Business
Earl Wentworth graduated from Nute High School with the class of 1938. He first worked in the office of Spaulding Fibre Company. Earl and Virginia Kimball were married in 1941. In1942 Earl enlisted in the Army Air Force and was a cryptographer. After the war Earl and Virginia lived in Union where they raised their three children. He returned to Spaulding Fibre as foreman. Earl attended Western Auto School in 1956. In 1958 he opened a Western Auto store in Wolfeboro and sold it two years later. In 1960 Earl opened the Ace Auto Store in Rochester and remained there until 1981. Earl was an avid supporter of all student sports and activities at Nute. Through his business, he also sponsored Rochester sports teams and even a race car. After retirement Earl went to work at Wentworth State Park until 2000. Earl and Virginia were married for 65 years until his death in October of 2006.
Rena Drew Fortier, Community Service
Rena Fortier graduated from Nute High School with the class of 1949. Rena with her husband Bill raised two active boys, Dwight and Les, who also live in Milton. Rena was always an active supporter and participant in sporting events at Nute. Her love of music was evident as she regularly sang with her trio at community minstrel shows, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, Frisbie Follies, the Church choir, and she was the pianist for children at the Milton Learning Center. Rena was famous for her skill as cook and baker. She owned and operated the downtown bakery and was a cook for lunches at Nute. Rena continues even today to share her cooking talents for many private and community celebrations and events. Rena has served on many committees for school, church and community. She is a willing servant and participant in the town of Milton. She has a passion to help and support the students at Nute High School. Rena has been an active member of the Wall of Distinction committee since its inception in 2002. Her interest in the Alumni has been an example of her commitment and dedication to keep in touch and remember the achievements of Nute classmates, teachers and students.
Clara Laskey McCann, Health Education
Clara Laskey McCann graduated with the Nute High School class of 1949. She grew up in Milton Mills, and graduated from the Wentworth School of Nursing in Dover as a Registered Nurse. Clara was President of the Rollingsford PTA and founded Friends of the Library in Rollingsford. A 4-H leader for over 15 years, Clara created the “Dairy Bar at the Rochester Fair”. Clara and her husband Ed worked for over 40 years on the March of Dimes Mother’s March and other connected services. In 1954, Clara was looking forward to the birth of her first child when Polio struck. She had been slated to be among the first to get the Salk vaccine. The disease complicated the pregnancy and the child did not survive. After six months at Children’s Hospital, Clara returned home paralyzed in both legs from the hips down. She quickly gave up her wheel chair and began doing her own housework. Within four years, Clara gave birth to two daughters. Ed put wheels on a bassinet and high chair and she just wheeled them around. Clara maintained, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Clara continued with many worthy causes as long as possible. She passed away in March of 2012.
Bonnie Katwick Dunton, Community Service & Education
Bonnie Katwick Dunton graduated from Nute High School with the Class of 1958. She was very active in basketball, playing violin in Nute’s small orchestra, speaking at Founder’s Day and the Year Book. She attended UNH and Conservatory of Music in Boston, majoring in concert violin. In 1960 Bonnie married Charles (Don) Dunton, they have four children and six grandchildren. Bonnie has been involved in community activities for many years. She was a 4-H Club Leader, substitute teacher, ran the Milton Co-op Kindergarten for two years, and was a Title 2 Reading Teacher at Nute. Bonnie served on the Milton Bi-Centennial Committee in 1976. She helped form the Milton Historical Society and served as President and Vice President for several years. Bonnie has been very actively involved with the NH Farm Museum. She has spent 25 years managing and training volunteers to do everything from exhibits to working with the Children’s Programs. Bonnie served on the NH Historic Commission. She has memberships in Strawberry Bank, The NH Historical Society, The NH Archaeology Society, The NH Farm Museum, The NH Old Graveyard Association. Bonnie loves to go into the Milton Schools to share knowledge of what Milton looked like before the Marina came to town. Bonnie belongs to and is very active in the Scottish Clan Morrison Society of North America.
David Piper, Science & Technology
David Piper graduated from Nute High School with the Class of 1960. He was in the US Air Force from 1960 – 1964 where he was a Dental Lab Technician. David attended Centerary College in Louisiana, Tulane University, Jones Junior college in Ellisville, Mississippi, and many corporate schools to learn the latest on-field technologies and tools. David experienced many interesting and unusual career opportunities through the years. He has been a welder’s helper for Aquatic Engineering, private investigator, manager and owner of several businesses, mobile home transporter, Fire Tower Spotter, milk and ice cream delivery man. He was a transformer coil winder for Howard Industries in Laurel, MS; and survey steering tool and electric wire-line operator for Sperry-Sun . He worked offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and throughout the USA as a multi-shot directional bore hole surveyor. He had the tools to determine every twist and turn of any existing hole. David surveyed oil and gas wells, water wells, disposal wells, radiation monitoring holes, CO2 wells, coal mine ventilation holes and river crossing holes. David retired from Halliburton Sperry-Sun in 2003. He lives in Ellisville, Mississippi with his wife of 41 years.
John Boyd, Community Service
John Boyd graduated from Nute with the Class of 1961. After graduation he went to New York City with a religious organization to help the physically handicapped. From 1963-66 John trained for the ministry at New Brunswick Bible Institute. In 1966 he ministered at the children’s Bible Fellowship of NYC with a summer and winter program. In 1969 John was Pastor at the Greenport, Long Island NY First Baptist Church. In 1972 he was Pastor in Hollis Center, Maine at the Center Baptist Church specializing in youth ministry. John trained in ministry administration in up-state NY at Camp Hope& Joy. He was Pastor for four years at the East Royalty Faith Bible Church in Prince Edward Island, Pastor for seven years at the State Street Baptist Church in Presque Isle, Maine, fifteen years at the Rothesay Baptist Church St. John, New Brunswick, and then seven years as Pastor at the Ontario Temple Baptist Church. John has been teaching at the New Brunswick Bible institute since 1984. John has been part of the “Walk Through The Bible” training school for Navy chaplains and taught ministry at Navy bases in Little Creek, Virginia Beach and Norfork, Virginia. He has taught the ministry in Brazil and Bolivia. John is now semi-retired, living in Hampton, and continues to teach Pastoral Theology to prospective minister in training.
Dennis Lauze, Community Service
Dennis Lauze graduated from Nute High School with the Class of 1969. Dennis then attended RETS Electronics School in Boston where he studied advanced electronics. Dennis joined the US Navy and continued specialized schooling in nuclear power training. Dennis was stationed aboard the USS Lafayette from 1973 – 1977. From 1977 - 2007 Dennis was employed at the Portsmouth Naval shipyard beginning as apprentice electrician, and advancing to Shift Test Engineer, Chief test Engineer, Nuclear Ship Superintendent, Radiological Waste Manager & Radiological Facility Manager, and Code 300/300N Staff. Dennis has been dedicated to public service throughout Strafford County since 1984, coaching soccer, baseball, volleyball, skiing, and Special Olympics. Over the years Dennis has served on several area boards: Trustee at the First United Methodist Church; currently serves as Board Member for Great Bay Services and the Pease Greeters. He is President and Chairman of the board of Whig Hill Homeowners Association. Dennis has been very active supporting Special Olympics New Hampshire, volunteering at the state level for summer, fall, spring and winter games. He also has been the Awards Manager for over ten years. Dennis serves as a member of the Reunion Committee for USS Lafayette, and is President of the USS Lafayette Association. He also has been Leader of the Class of 1969 Nute High School Reunion Committee since 1979. Dennis is now spearheading a local non-profit organization, The Friends of Nute High School and Library. The purpose of “The Friends” is to improve the educational opportunities for the students of Nute by performing work on the physical plant and providing scholarships. Dennis and his wife Brenda have been married since 1974 and live in Strafford NH. They have two children, Chad and Nolan.
Matthew Flathers, Community Service
Matthew Flathers graduated from Nute High School with the Class of 1999. While attending Nute, Matt was active in sports, playing soccer, baseball and skiing. He was a member of the Student Council and the National Honor Society. He was also a volunteer with the Milton Fire Department. Matt graduated from Saint Anselm’s College where he majored in Biology. He received a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College in 2005. Matthew is a Crime Analyst for the Rochester Police Department. He is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team and a member of the Strafford County SWAT Team. Matt has also started a career as a real estate agent.
Kyle Baker, Health Education & Community Service
Kyle Baker graduated from Nute High School with the Class of 2004. While at Nute Kyle was a member of the National Honor Society, and a volunteer for the Milton Fire Department. During his senior year Kyle was awarded the National VFW $25,000 Scholarship as winner of the oratorical essay contest, competing against speakers from 53 states and US territories. Kyle graduated with Honors from the University of Maine, Farmington with a dual Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing and English. He was the leader of an improvisation acting group, “The Lawn Pirates” and a volunteer fire fighter in Farmington Maine. He is Maine Firefighter I and II certified and a National Registry & State of Maine Paramedic. Kyle works full time for the Augusta, Maine Fire Department. He is currently attending Kennebec Valley Community College for his degree in Advanced Emergency Care. Kyle is pursuing a career as a Physician’s Assistant.
Honorary Recipient
Joan Paige, Health Education
Joan Paige began her career as School Nurse for the Milton School District in 1973. For several years she was the Nurse for all Milton students, grades 1 through 12. Joan has been a key player in every positive effort to improve Milton schools for children, parents, staff and community members. She created the Milton School District Health Curriculum, arranged for a multitude of health and safety initiatives for students. She facilitated the Milton Elementary award winning Wellness Team, provided Nute High students with internship opportunities, coordinated with Strafford County Community Action to provide for needy families during the holidays, and made sure children attended summer camp at no cost to families. Joan was instrumental in getting Milton and Wakefield personnel trained in Comprehensive Emergency Management Program for Schools, she arranged for the introduction of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program. She created and arranged several programs for children each year on nutrition, mental health, water safety bicycle safety, organized the children’s walking club for fitness, provided for annual clinics for flu shots and required inoculations. Joan was selected as the 2004 – 2005 New Hampshire School Nurse of the Year. After 34 years of dedication to Milton, Joan retired in 2007. She continues to be active working 5-6 days every week as Activity Coordinator for senior citizens at assisted living centers in Strafford County.