Lorenza B. Piper may have been the first principal of ACS. This newspaper article was sent to me by one of our Saigon Kids.
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Lorenza B. Piper 1922-2004
Kennebec Journal (Augusta, ME)

Monday, July 5, 2004

AUGUSTA — Lorenza B. Piper, 82, a resident of Academy Road, Monmouth, died on Friday, July 2, 2004, at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta following a long illness.

She was born in Quincy, Mass., on June 12, 1922, the daughter of Franklin and Harriett McLucas Butman.

Lorenza attended Holton High School in Danvers, Mass., and graduated in 1939. She continued her education at Nasson College in Springvale. On Dec. 25, 1944, she married Donald A. Piper Sr. in Monmouth; he died on Aug. 9, 1978. Lorenza assisted her husband at the family farm market garden, apple, poultry and tree.

Hard work was a way of life for Lorenza. She received her master’s degree in education from the University of Maine, Orono, in 1962. She taught home economics at Wellfleet High School in Wellfleet, Mass., 1943-1944, and at Monmouth Academy, 1945-1946. She then went on to be an assistant manager at the EUCOM Post Exchange, Augsburg and Frankfurt, Germany, 1946-1948, becoming registrar at Frankfurt TI & E Army Education Center in Frankfurt, Germany, 1948-1951. She then returned to Maine and taught home economics at Limington Academy, 1951-1952. From 1956 to 1958, Lorenza was principal and teacher at the American Community School in Saigon , Vietnam. Lorenza taught and was department head of home economics in Lewiston, 1952-1982, at Jordan, Montello and Lewiston High schools. She was Teacher of the Year for the state of Maine in 1982. She retired in 1982, going to help her aunt Bertha Smith in Waterboro. After her aunt’s death, Lorenza returned to Monmouth, where she finished putting together her latest book, called “The Shepard’s Scrolls,” a story of the “Fourth Wiseman” and his travels to Bethlehem, tying into the Christmas story.

She was past president of the Maine Home Economics Teachers Association, and past president (served as president for 4 years) of the Androscoggin Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of the American Home Economics Association, Maine Home Economics Association, Maine Teachers Association, Maine Vocational Association, Lewiston Teachers Association, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Maine Retired Teachers Association, National Education Association, Women’s Legislative Council of Maine, Monmouth Grange 39, Maine Farm Bureau and American Tree Farmers; a member and good friend of the Margaret Chase Smith Library; a past Matron of Boynton Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star; a past Worthy High Priestess of the Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem of Maine and New Hampshire; an active member of the Nasson College Alumni Association, Saint Stephen The Martyr Episcopal Church, Small Woodland Owner’s Association of Maine, St. Mark’s Home for Women in Augusta, Monmouth Historical Society, University of Maine at Orono Alumni Association, Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., Foundation Inc. and the Waterboro Historical Society; a former member of the board of directors of the Monmouth Credit Union; and an annual supporter of the American Cancer Association.

Lorenza is survived by two sons, Guy W.A. Piper of Monmouth and Donald A. Piper Jr. and his wife, Sharon, of Levant; three grandchildren, Beth Amy Piper of Levant, and Donald A. Piper III and Brent O. Piper, both of Stetson; and one sister, Bertha B. Heacock of Arizona.

Visiting hours will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Bragdon-Finley Funeral Home, 707 Main St., Monmouth. The Boynton Chapter OES will meet at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at United Church of Monmouth, Main Street, Monmouth. Officiating will be the Rev. Gerhardt Miller. Interment will be at the family’s convenience.

If desired, contributions may be made to the scholarship fund known as: Donald A. Piper Sr. Fund, 137 Academy Road, Monmouth 04259. A memorial service, to be announced at a later date, will take place at Saint Stephen The Martyr Episcopal Church in East Waterboro. Letters of condolence may be sent to bfinley@prexar.com.

Section: Obits
Page: 4B
Record Number: 796136
Copyright, 2004, Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

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I wonder if her husband, Donald A. Piper Sr., was a partner of JDP (Johnson, Drake and Piper)

I hope all Saigon Kids will join with me in remembering Lorenza B. Piper for all she contributed to our American Community School during it’s early development. I’m sure she was a very big asset to the establishment and growth of our school.

Bob