Obituary of Arthur Cormier

Arthur Cormier, who was an integral part of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and the community passed away after a short battle with cancer on Saturday morning, February 26, 2011. He was just 56 years old. He recently retired in November of 2010 after 33 years of teaching special education at the Regional High School. He loved working with his students, helped them accept life’s challenges, and brought smiles to their faces. Each of his students had a special place in his heart long after they graduated from school. He was someone who cared for the youth of Martha’s Vineyard and made a difference in their lives. He was heavily invested in the school’s extracurricular programs and outlets of creative expression. He had been in charge of the yearbook, worked on school plays, an advisor to students, and had been involved in many committees in the community. He will be remembered at the school for his dedication, concern, warmth, friendliness, humor, and his laughter. Arthur was born in Newton, the son of the late Arthur and Margaret Cormier. While growing up in Burlington he was involved in the high school’s drama programs and the recreation department’s “Camp Columbus&quote; program, working with special needs children. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1972, earned his teaching degree from Bridgewater State College and his master's degree from Cambridge College. Arthur was a volunteer for the Special Olympics, enjoyed traveling and was very proud of his Irish heritage. He enjoyed the company of his many friends on and off the Island and was a great son, brother, and uncle. His passing came too early, but his life made a lasting impression on those he touched. Arthur was survived by his siblings; Deanne Cormier of Millbrook, AL, Betty Voag & her husband Glenn of Billerica, and Colin Cormier & his wife Ann of Burlington. He was a special uncle to Donald Vachon, Jr., Denise McCaughan, Dawn Ramirez, Douglas Vachon, Lynn Scott, Michelle Towski, Jennifer Higgins, Laurel and Stephen Cormier. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Friday, March 4 from 5-8 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington on Saturday, March 5 at 11:30 a.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Arthur’s name may be made to Season’s Hospice, 275 Grove St., Suite 3-102, Newton, MA 02466 or the Special Olympics Massachusetts, Attn. Donations, Yawkey Sports Training Center, 512 Forest St., Marlborough, MA 01752, www.specialolympicsma.org. My Brother-in-law, by Ann Cormier March 5, 2011 Good Morning. Arthur J. Cormier, Jr. He was a son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, educator and best of all a great friend. We might be saying things like “it’s just not fair”, “it’s just not right” or “he’s gone too soon” but we have to remember all the good times we did have with him over the years. Arthur was such a joyful bright light. Even though we will not have this light physically here with us, we will still have this light in our memories and in our hearts every time we think of him. He had such a great laugh and a great sense of humor, how could we ever forget it? He had this amazing memory. He could recite or sing any jingle from commercials, theme songs from television shows or just about any song from years ago. It was very entertaining and sometimes quite comical. Although he had this great memory, he also had a forgetful side. He couldn’t always remember where he put things. When he would go visit his friends and family he never failed to leave something behind. Sometimes it would be his glasses, his wallet, his address book, a sweatshirt or his cell phone. Maybe that was his way of making sure he was going to come back to see you. Arthur loved to travel. He traveled to many places in the United States and was also able to travel overseas to Amsterdam and Ireland. Oh how we was so proud to be Irish. He owned many items with an Irish design to it. He also collected vintage tins and vintage model cars. He truly loved his family. He never missed a Thanksgiving or Christmas at Betty & Glenn’s house. All the nieces and nephews loved to see their Uncle Arthur. The family used to tease their mother and say that Arthur was her favorite. So when he graduated from college, as a joke she put candles around his picture like a shrine. She would also say that when Arthur came off island that he didn’t have to take the ferry because the water parted and he could just walk across. It was all in fun. Arthur was very close to his sisters and brother. When Arthur was young he would babysit for his sister Deanne’s kids. He also spent a lot of time at his sister Betty’s house playing cards with her and his friends. Arthur and Betty also worked together at Baystate working with special needs children. Arthur had a special relationship with his brother Colin. Their father passed away when Colin was only 13 so I think Arthur became like a father figure to him for a while as he was 9 years older than Colin. Through the years they helped each other whenever they could and became more than just brothers, they were good friends. Arthur was Colin’s best man at our wedding. He also welcomed us into his home every summer or basically whenever we wanted. We would come and as I like to call it, ‘invade’ his home for a few days to sometimes a week. He introduced us to the Flying Horses carousel, the annual fireworks in Oak Bluffs (the best we have every seen) and the marching around the bandstand. Laurel and Stephen wanted to go back every year even as they got older. These are great memories we will always have. His sister Betty said that if you were to be graded in this life for how much you were loved and how much you cared for others, Arthur would receive an A+. I tend to agree after what I have seen over the past few months. Arthur received so many cards and numerous phone calls from so many friends, family and students. He definitely was well-loved. I don’t think we will ever know the full extent of exactly how many lives he has touched. It is just amazing. I believe Arthur knew his calling early in life. When he was in high school, he was involved in the Burlington recreation program called “Camp Columbus” which worked with special needs children. He went on to graduate from college and then became a special needs teacher on Martha’s Vineyard for the past 33 years. It takes a special kind of person to work in that profession. Arthur had that special warmth and compassion to do the job. I thought I would share some of the comments from the Guest Book on the Sullivan’s website. I was thinking a lot of the same comments and feelings and feel these people said it best. “No matter who you were, when Uncle Arthur was talking with you, he had a way of making you feel like you were his best friend. I have seen this over and over again with people he had known for years or with a waitress or store clerk that he had never seen before. There was a spark in his eye that made you feel welcome and that you were a part of his world. This spark that he had was a blessing and through him, a gift to each and every person that ever met him. I have a difficult time recalling ever seeing him without a laugh just waiting to come out. His legacy is this gift, his laughter and just as much a blessing, his friendship.” “… With him blasting Peter, Paul and Mary &quote;campfire tunes&quote; and Mark Cohn, Walking in Memphis and Silver Cadillac, we would sing along with smiles on our faces. Oh how he loved those tunes!!!!! He seemed to be the Mayor of the Island, as it was virtually impossible to go someplace on MV and for him NOT to be recognized warmly by someone.” “He was a dedicated teacher and his students loved him. He had a wonderfully warm way with his students. He ate lunch with his students daily, went on adventures with them, comforted them, and applauded their many successes.” “The joy he brought to his students and colleagues will never be forgotten; he loved each and every one on them.” “The love and pride he felt for his nieces and nephews were slightly second to the love he felt for his Mom & Dad, sisters, brother and brother-in-law. As friends we would listen as the proud uncle would relate all the wonderful deeds of each niece and nephew.” I want to say thank you to everyone. We have received so much love and support from so many people over the past few months. It has been just tremendous. I also want to say a big thank you to Arthur’s sister Betty and brother-in-law Glenn for taking such great care of Arthur during these past 4 months, especially this past month. They opened their hearts and their home to give Arthur the opportunity to stay in their home and be with his family when he needed it the most. A big thank you also goes to Arthur’s brother Colin for he drove him into Boston for so many doctor appointments. I am so proud to be part of this family. Arthur, we are all so very proud of the person you were and please know that you will be greatly missed. We will remember you always, especially when “Dawn Breaks over Marblehead!”