Flocking for Higher Education in Thomaston boosted by matching donor
When Jeff Caron passed away unexpectedly in 2011, he left behind a lifelong legacy of selfless giving, committed service, and contagious humor. He engaged life deeply and was happiest himself when he was in some way helping others.
A scholarship in his name, the Dr. Jeffrey S. Caron Memorial Scholarship, was a natural extension of the person he was in life and a way for his family to ensure that he had a way to give to others posthumously. Established by his family shortly after his death, the scholarship was originally funded with generous donations given in lieu of flowers after his passing. The fund is available to graduating Oceanside seniors (Thomaston residents priority) intending to pursue a career in medicine.
This past spring, the first memorial scholarship funds were awarded to two young women embarking on medical careers. In the fall, Samantha Greer Dienesch-Calamari, of Owls Head, will attend Wake Forrest University with plans to become an emergency room doctor. Karly McKenzie Robinson, of Rockland/Thomaston, plans to become a registered nurse and will be attending the University of New England beginning this September.
Jeff was born in the old Knox Hospital in Rockland, March 14, 1966, son of Louis and Sandra (Richards) Caron. He grew up in Thomaston and displayed early the initiative that would characterize his life.
Jeff completed his K-12 education in Thomaston schools, graduating as Salutatorian of the Georges Valley High School, class of 1984.
He had an insatiable curiosity and would not stop asking questions until he had an answer that satisfied him.
Jeff became a junior firefighter before he had his driver's license, arriving at many a call with his mother in the passenger's seat. He later completed his Emergency Medical Technician training, becoming the youngest EMT on the crew and the only member who needed to leave class for ambulance calls in the middle of the school day.
He was also a Special Police Officer for the Thomaston Police Department, completing his training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
Upon graduating high school, Jeff first matriculated to Bates College, majoring in Biology. His hometown was never far away, however, and he frequently returned home on the weekends, working as a dispatcher for Thomaston Emergency Services and as clerk in the Emergency Department at Pen Bay Medical Center.
Jeff entered medical school after graduating from Bates, enrolling in the University of Vermont, College of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1993. He completed a one year emergency medical residency at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, FL and later a two year family medicine residency in Memphis, TN.
Upon relocating to Ft. Lauderdale, he initially worked in the ER of a local hospital, however he missed the connection with his patients to which he had become accustomed during his family practice work.
While he will be remembered for many things, his family will most cherish his incredible kindness and generosity. He sincerely believed that it was his calling to make others' lives better through his own and spent his life doing just that.
In order to ensure continued sustainability of the fund, Jeff’s family and friends have rounded up dozens of pink flamingos with which to decorate the lawns of your unsuspecting family and friends. For a minimum donation of $20, the flamboyance of flamingos will relocate to the lawn of your choosing and bask in their pink glory until they are called away by another donor for the next flocking. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
One flocking tends to lead to another, which is entirely the point, much as Jeff’s naturally giving nature often prompted others to give of themselves as well. So far this summer the flock has graced the homes of more than 30 Thomaston area residents and is eagerly awaiting their next destination.
For the remainder of the 2014 flocking season, a generous anonymous childhood friend of Jeff’s who benefited from others’ generosity while pursuing a medical career has offered a dollar for dollar match, up to $1,000, for flockings or outright donations. Your donation will therefore be doubled and the scholarship fund doubly supported. Better still, the donor has agreed to repeat this offer for the next five years if the $1,000 goal is reached this year! It’s a great way to share a laugh with a friend while supporting young people who intend to make helping others their life’s work as Jeff did.
If you would like to flock someone in the Thomaston area, call Jeff's mother, Sandra at (207) 354-6005, to schedule a flocking. If you would like to simply make a donation to the fund, please send a check made out to Dr. Jeffrey S Caron Memorial Scholarship Fund and mail it to Sandra Caron, 36 Elm St, Thomaston, ME 04861. We thank you for your support. Please join the fun. Let's see how much money we can raise to honor Jeff and help support someone's college career at the same time.
HAPPY FLOCKING!!
