A crowd that filled Fairview school’s old gym took time to remember longtime teacher Jack Sutton during Fairview’s Old Timer’s Reunion and Summer Festival Saturday.

Sutton passed away Nov. 22, 2009, at the age of 80. His wife, Bonnie, passed away in April.

Jack served as an English teacher in room 2 of the school from 1960-1991. After retirement, he remained a fixture in Fairview as a volunteer in the school’s library and taking tickets at sporting events. He also had a tradition of greeting students at the front door for the first day of the new school year.

Bill Vander Weele | Sidney Herald AnnDee Taylor, school librarian, and Dennis Trudell, Fairview Warrior Foundation, take part in the unveiling of the portrait of Jack Sutton. Because Sutton had a five-decade tradition of greeting students at the front door for the first day of school, the portrait will be placed near the front door for the school year’s opening day. After that, the portrait can be viewed in the school’s cafeteria where he spent countless volunteer hours taking tickets for school activities.

“Jack’s big day every year was the first day of school,” Randy Noyes, emcee of the program, said. “He taught us how to read, write and tell stories.”

Many of his friends and former students took the opportunity to tell stories about their departed teacher. The stories described how outstanding of an instructor as well as a community member he was in Fairview.

“Because he didn’t die here, we didn’t get the chance to grieve,” Noyes said. “And his family didn’t get to feel our support. He was a great man.”

In attendance during Saturday’s program were two of Sutton’s three children along with grandchildren.

The program was highlighted with the unveiling of a portrait done by Sherie Roshau.