GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — Donald E. Dearborn, the former longtime superintendent of the Ocean City School District who is credited with bringing the new high school to fruition, lost his battle with cancer Nov. 29.
The 84-year-old was instrumental in the construction of multiple schools. He was hired in 1984 as superintendent of the Galloway Township School District, where he worked for eight years and oversaw the construction of three elementary schools.
Dearborn completed his career as superintendent in Ocean City, where he worked from 1992 to 2005. He oversaw a voter referendum in 2001 for construction of a new high school to replace the aging building on the west side of Atlantic Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets.
Construction began in 2004 and the new building was finished for the 2004–05 school year. The old building was gradually torn down and replaced by parking and tennis courts, with the former entrance arch left as the only remnant of the previous structure.
“It was a great pleasure to have served as a school board member when was Dr. Dearborn was superintendent. He was a major part of getting a new high school built in Ocean City,” said Michael Allegretto, who will be returning to the board in January. “He took pride in the district and the students and their accomplishments while he was superintendent.”
Mayor Jay Gillian, who also was a school board member during Dearborn’s tenure, said his legacy will be forever celebrated in the city.
“He was a great man. He did a lot for the school system,” Gillian said. “His vision and all the things that he brought to the city and that school system are going to be there for a long time. He definitely left his mark.”
Born June 21, 1939, in Portland, Maine, Dearborn grew up in Dover, N.H. He attended St. Anselm’s College and earned a bachelor’s degree in history, then began his teaching career in Alexandria City Public Schools in 1962. In 1965, he was named assistant principal at Mt. Vernon Elementary School and worked for the school system as a principal, director and assistant superintendent until 1984.
During that time, he earned a master’s degree in school administration in 1967 and a doctorate in curriculum, both from The George Washington University.
A Celebration of Life service is planned for Jan. 6 at the United Methodist Church at Absecon, 100 Pitney Road. Visitation is scheduled for 9:30 to 11 a.m. followed by the service.