SANFORD, Maine — Friends, family and colleagues gathered Saturday for a poignant dedication ceremony at the Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School gymnasium, which was officially dedicated to the late physical education teacher Richard Wilkins.
“I am truly honored to be teaching in his gym, and there is no place I’d rather be,” said teacher Lindsay Tibbetts, who taught health and physical education alongside Wilkins for many years. “I will continue to keep his memory alive and let the children know at MCS who Mr. Wilkins was.”
Mr. Wilkins, as he was known to thousands of children in his 31 years teaching physical education, died Oct. 8, 2021, at age 58, literally weeks after he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.
Tibbetts was one of three teacher colleagues who spoke, sharing memories of the man who was quick to blow up a ball for a colleague, retrieve a frisbee off the roof and even collect orders and pick up lunch for the staff on Friday afternoons. He loved using drums to keep the kids’ attention, and he especially loved teaching kindergarteners — otherwise lovingly known as “herding cats,” or “Puppy Monkey Babies” after a favorite Super Bowl commercial.
“And he was awesome, considering the number of women he had to work with,” said teacher Laurie Ackroyd with a laugh. “He was very patient with all of us.”
He was especially accommodating with students, “he adapted to whatever was coming his way,” said teacher Ann Arnold, who spoke with Ackroyd at the podium. “He made gym class educational, fun and entertaining, especially during COVID,” referring to the special videos he made with Tibbetts to entertain students and get them moving at home.
Though he was always excitedly counting down the days till retirement, Rich was known for going above and beyond for his kids. Tibbetts recalled a time they went to a conference together in Boston and he made it a point to wait for an autograph from one of his student’s favorite gymnasts after she spoke. Tibbetts also recalled the brilliant way he once adapted physical education for a student whose classroom teacher said needed extra attention.
“Little did (the student) know she was running back and forth,” said Tibbetts with awe. “Rich had such a big heart when it came to the students. He would make sure classes were fun and students had a choice.”
Always a jokester, with his children and colleagues, “Rich was quiet, spoke up when he felt the need to, and cracked quiet jokes during meetings. It was really hard to sit next to him sometimes, for fear of getting into trouble!” said Arnold with a chuckle.
Rich, a Patriots fan, and Arnold, a Steelers die-hard, also shared a special fan rivalry. After a loss, she would often come to school and find her door decorated with Patriots decor. And when her team won, she was sure to give it right back to Rich. At Saturday’s ceremony, Arnold brought black crow feathers because his Patriots recently beat her Steelers, and she blew the feathers to end her speech.
Outside of the gym, Rich also coached high school football for many years, loved fly-fishing and cooking, and he was a doting father and dedicated husband.
“When he talked about Autumn and Christine, his eyes just lit up,” said Arnold. “He just adored them.”
To end the ceremony, wife Christine Wilkins and daughter Autumn Wilkins raised the ceremonial plaque next to the stage in the gym.
On Friday night at Sanford High School’s Homecoming Football game, the Legacy Foundation also held a moment of silence in Rich’s memory. The players, many of whom Rich had coached through the years at various levels, lined the field and held the plaque that was placed in the gym on Saturday.
“Every once in a while I think of a new memory we had, and I smile. …Every day I fist-bump his picture on the wall and I often find myself talking to him throughout the day when something crazy happens with the kids,” said Tibbetts. “We’ll never know why someone is taken from this earth so suddenly, but they will never take away our memories that we have shared together.”
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