January 24, 1924-September 19, 2008
In 1946, when the Aroostook State Normal School reopened after World War II, school officials made a hire that would have a profound impact on the campus for more than half a century – they hired Miss Caroline Gentile to teach health and physical education.
Miss Gentile, as she was known to so many, remains the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s longest-serving faculty member and a legend in the physical education field. She worked at the University for 59 years, built a health, physical education and recreation program that has gained a reputation for excellence around New England and gifted more than $1 million to help build and maintain the wellness center that now bears her name — Caroline D. Gentile Hall.
Miss Gentile was born in Newton, Mass., on January 24, 1924, the daughter of Gerardo and Donata Gentile. She graduated from Newton High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Sargent College, a master’s from New York University and completed further graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University. In 1996, in honor of her 50th year of teaching at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, she was awarded an honorary doctorate.
Miss Gentile was a driving force behind so much of what happened on campus between the years of 1946, when Dr. Clifford O.T. Wieden hired her, and 2005, when she retired. She orchestrated commencement exercises each year for more than 50 years and she mentored many students. Miss Gentile also contributed immensely to the creation of a strong and thriving university through her many leadership roles on campus and service on numerous committees. She served as chair of the Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation [HPER] for 20 years. She twice was president of the University Senate, twice president of AFUM, the faculty union, and was one of its founding members. She taught thousands of students, served on hundreds of committees and influenced many a faculty member.
Her concern for the health of her profession led her to serve in leadership capacities around the state. She was the president of the Maine District in HPER; president of the Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance; a member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on HPER; a member of the state HPER Curriculum Committee; the American Association of HPER Publications Director for Maine; a member of the state and national boards on HPER; one of the organizers of the Maine Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women; and served on the Maine Sunday Telegram’s 22-member panel asked to select and rank the top 20 events of the century.
In 2006, the Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance honored Miss Gentile with its top distinction: the Highest Praise Award. During the presentation, in a large, crowded banquet room, the master of ceremonies asked those present to stand up if they ever had Miss Gentile for a teacher. Half of the people in the room rose to their feet.
Miss Gentile also was famous for serving her community. She was a member of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women since 1947, having served as its local president, the Maine State Federation president and chairing virtually all of its committees. She was a gubernatorial appointee to the Maine Commission for Women. She also belonged to the American Association of University Women and Delta Kappa Gamma, serving as its first vice president. She was the director of the Presque Isle Recreation & Parks Advisory Board and helped with the Aroostook County Historical Society and Displaced Homemakers. Her service did not go unnoticed. In March of 2000, she was inducted into the Eleventh Maine Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2003, she was inducted into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors.
She made time for it all, and left the campus and community with so many memories – her legendary driving abilities, her tutu, the ballroom dancing lessons and those sneakers. But most importantly, she’ll always be remembered for her dedication as a professional, her devotion to her family, her demand for excellence in the classroom and, of course, her service to students above all else.
