Ramona Gaudette served as Southport Central School’s cook for 57 years. Son Stephen (Class of 1965) recalls, “My mother helped feed the island’s children. She and Helen Rand worked for years together cooking homemade meals and doting on the kids who would often visit them in the cafeteria. They loved every minute of it, especially seeing the children (over the years, often three generations from one family), handing them a warm cookie to take to recess, providing a much needed hug, or breaking into a spontaneous song and dance.”

The Gaudette family has very graciously asked the community to consider making a donation in memory of Ramona to help fund the new outdoor wooded playground. Donations in the form of checks should be made out to Southport Island Association, but either dropped off or mailed to the Southport Central School, 438 Hendricks Hill Road, Southport, ME 04576. Donations will be deposited into a special account held by the Southport Island Association, a 501(c) 3 organization. The outdoor play kitchen will be dedicated in memory of Ramona as a lasting tribute to her love of the school and its children, and her commitment to feeding the island’s children for over five decades.