LIVERMORE – Former Jay High School Principal Bill Riley was remembered Thursday for his love of students and dedication to his family.
Riley, 58, died Tuesday at a Boston hospital of complications from an August 2002 lung transplant.
Riley had been hospitalized for several months before his death, first in Lewiston and the last seven weeks in Massachusetts, his daughter-in-law Tina Riley said Thursday.
Riley retired after 27 years in the Jay school system in the late 1990s because of severe emphysema.
Riley did well after his transplant and even started taking short walks while recovering.
The community rallied around the family with a benefit supper last fall.
“He worked really hard … he fought the good fight and took the opportunity that was offered to him,” Tina Riley said.
The Livermore Falls native had gotten to the point where he was really sick and very weak before a lung became available Aug. 1, 2002.
Riley said her father-in-law was a sharp individual, he was very dedicated to family and had an extraordinary sense of humor. He will be remembered for his teaching and coaching of students.
JHS Principal Peter Brown worked closely with Bill Riley, as assistant principal and athletic director, before Riley retired.
“He was a very bright, dedicated, educational orientated person,” Brown said, “and the students at Jay High School were his nuone love at his work. If one didn’t know him really, really well, they might think he was a little rough around the edges but Jay High School and his kids were tops with him.”
Brown said he followed athletics, academics and arts performances because he was “really proud of the kids.”
The two men talked about issues, Brown said, and “We always made sure, as Bill liked to say, ‘our ducks were in a row’ before we did anything.”
“Bill liked to put on a gruff exterior but inside, he was a softy,” said Karen Mitchell, a teacher for 35 years. “In terms of kids, they always came first.”
Linwood Worster, a 32-year teacher, said Riley “was highly respected as a teacher by students. I think he did a fine job as principal.”
Riley spent 13 years as an English teacher and 14 years as principal at the school.
“I really thought a lot of him,” Brown’s secretary, Pam Bergeron said. “I really feel he had students’ best interest in mind. I respected him and I enjoyed working with him. I just considered him a really dear friend.”
dperry@sunjournal.com
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