Gordon J. & Joan L. McRae Fund

Gordon J. McRae was a beloved Wakefield teacher and administrator who was also very active in the Wakefield Teachers Association. Following graduation from Salem State College in 1948, he first taught at the Hurd School, then the Atwell Junior High, eventually becoming Assistant Principal of that school as well as the brand new Wakefield Junior High School on Farm Street. He left Wakefield for a few years and was Principal of the new Francis Wyman Junior High/Middle School in Burlington for many years, but eventually came back and finished his career in Wakefield with the GED program until his death in 1986.

Before going to college, Gordon served in the 8th Air Force during WWII and was stationed in Bury St. Edmunds in England and served as a navigator of B-17 bombers, safely completing 36 missions over Nazi Germany. He retired as Major after 20 years of service in the Air Force reserve.

He wrote, directed and acted in a number of plays for the Junior High School and the Wakefield Teachers Association. He produced the play Hotel Alaska to benefit The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield.

Joan L. McRae, served as a Director of TSF for many years until her death in 2007. Joan was a retired Wakefield teacher. She received her Bachelor of Education from Salem State College, where she met her beloved husband. Joan spent her entire career teaching in Wakefield at the Warren, Hurd and Lincoln schools. Upon her retirement, the Hurd School Library was named in Joan’s honor. Joan was a tireless volunteer for many local organizations including TSF. She was a director, member of the Executive Board and was honored by being named in 1998 to the National Honor Roll of Dollars for Scholars. Joan loved to read, attend Broadway shows and spend time with her twin granddaughters. This fund has a preference for a student studying the arts, particularly drama.