Bob Tukey CMSLC Legacy Project

The new Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus will house state-of-the-art wood and metal shops. In memory of long-serving Industrial Arts teacher, Bob Tukey, we would like to name a space in his honor so that future Sumner students will remember his dedication and contributions to our students and communities.

 

Join us by donating to the CMSLC Legacy Project for the Metals/Automotive Material Lab in Memory of Bob Tukey. Contributions can be made through GoFundMe or by check issued to Friends of Sumner's Future, 2165 US Highway 1, Sullivan ME  04664.  All donations are tax deductible under section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. 

Read on for a short bio of this wonderful man, provided by Bob's family but edited for brevity.

 

"Robert Lane Tukey, Sr. ran away to school at age four in 1942. Students didn’t start school until age six in those days. He kept showing up at school, so they finally let him enroll early. He used to joke that he ran away to school and never really left. He graduated from Bristol High School in 1955 and attended Gorham State Teachers’ College from 1955 to June 1959, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Arts Education.

 

After finishing college in 1959, at age 21, Mr. Tukey began teaching at Sumner Memorial High School. He taught both wood and metal shop for the first few years.

 

Mr. Tukey mentored and helped many students throughout his professional life, not just those who took his classes. He often took extra time with students before or after school hours, and, occasionally, individual students would show up in his driveway seeking advice.

 

He really enjoyed young people, made it a point to learn their individual interests, and liked to joke around with them. While he had to maintain order, discipline, and safety, he always tried to make the learning process as enjoyable as possible.

 

Mr. Tukey taught at Sumner Memorial High School for his entire career. He taught three generations of students. Many of the second and third generations were family members of students from the preceding generation(s) who had all had him as a teacher. He often ran into former students when he was running errands and easily remembered most of their names. He truly enjoyed his students and loved teaching.”