Editorial... Anne Marie Lewis was devoted to kids, to her community

The Tupper Lake community was shocked and deeply saddened this week by the news of the very premature death of Anne Marie Lewis.
Over the years as the district's speech language pathologist we heard her speak several times at board meetings about her work and some of the programs with students she directed.  We also spoke to her numerous times privately about her role there and the assistance she offered her charges.
We always found her to be incredibly serious when she spoke of her profession. She was very proud  of some of the gains that were being made in her field medically and instructionally, and she spoke of them  with enthusiasm.
Anne Marie was all about her students and how she could best help them learn and overcome any difficulties.  She was the consummate educator and she held the respect of all of her colleagues for her fierce dedication to the kids and her defense of them.
A tireless worker we routinely saw her at board meetings long after the end of the traditional work day, representing one or more of the school-associated organizations she volunteered to help.
Anne Marie was not all work, however.  She was lots of fun- with a great and often dry sense of humor.
She devoted many volunteers hours to the workings of the L.P. Q'ers parent-teacher group, both as a parent and an educator.  Her baby was the elementary school book fair each year which she ran tightly and efficiently so that it was financially successful to further the good work of her group and to put as many books in the hands of local kids as possible.  Anne Marie glowed every time she gave a report of its success to the board of education.
During her adult years here Anne Marie made a big difference in the community, and her family should be very proud of her and of all she accomplished in a relatively short time with us.
-Dan McClelland