I want for Maine's children what my father had. The son of a Boston cop, Paul LaMarche went into the Navy as a member of Tom Brokaw's "Finest Generation" and returned to civilian life with the blessing of a G.I. Bill-sponsored education, which allowed him to reach his full potential and continue serving his community.
Claire, Paul Jr., Pat, and Marian
(Youngest brother Phil was born later)
LaMarche, on their wedding day
We lived in affordable housing while my dad received the training that allowed him to become a physician and research scientist. He went on to become the medical director of Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.
Like many Mainers, my father was an independent thinker who even invented his own games for his five children. I remember one that involved all of us standing at one end of our very long kitchen. Depending on our age and abilities, my father would ask each one of us a question. Every correct answer allowed you to take a step forward. The first kid to reach him won.
When we were growing up, we kids were impressed that dad never needed to use a book or dictionary when asking his questions. But if any of us disputed a fact, he would let us find the right answer in the encyclopedia to prove that we had earned the step forward. Perhaps because this little game took effort on our part, it kept us actively engaged and gave us a sense of self-worth when we earned success.
Over the years, in raising my own two children, I have come to realize that my father's games with his children reflected the Maine values of self-reliance, hard work, and just rewards. And the many ways he has used his medical training to help the people of Maine are a perfect example of how investment in education can nurture independence and reap enormous benefits for all of us.
