Leominster educator: ‘My dad was my hero’

LEOMINSTER — Kate Himmer is carrying on her father’s legacy with an upcoming fundraiser that will help bring middle school students to Washington, D.C. — the same thing her dad did for many years.

Her father, Bill Macdonald, was a well-known and respected educator and administrator for Leominster Public Schools for over 35 years. When he was a history teacher at the former May A. Gallagher Junior High School, Macdonald and fellow teacher and administrator John Piccolomini started the eighth grade class trip to Washington, D.C., for city students.

“They both felt it was vital for eighth graders to have the chance to experience the rich history of Washington D.C. firsthand,” Himmer said of what inspired the initiative that started well over four decades ago. “I still remember my own trip to D.C. in eighth grade and when we have meetings it is amazing how many parents comment about their own memories of the trip and how excited they are for their own children to go.”

Himmer — a speech pathologist with Leominster Public Schools — is carrying on that tradition through the Bill Macdonald Memorial Washington D.C. Fund, which she set up following her father passing away in 2019. That year, four students were able to experience Washington, D.C., up close thanks to scholarships awarded through the fund.

“My sad suffered for a long time from a degenerative muscle disease called inclusion body myositis,” Himmer shared. “He asked that when he passed that we, his family, start a fund that would provide financial assistance for students in Leominster who want to attend the trip.”

The first official fundraiser was held in 2022 as a way to help defray the cost of the trip to the nation’s capital, especially for families and students who may not otherwise be able to afford the experience. But the fund was put on hold for a couple years because of the pandemic.

“With the rising cost of everything, the cost of the DC trip is reasonable but still expensive for many families,” Himmer posted last year in the fund Facebook page. “We are looking for sponsors for the DC fund to help support as many students as we can by providing scholarships to help with the cost. If you own a local business or know someone who may be interested please share! Thank you so much. I can provide a letter with the tax ID number if needed.”

The Bill Macdonald Memorial Washington D.C. Fund provides between four to six $600 scholarships per year, which covers half the cost of the trip. This is Himmer’s third year running the Washington, D.C., trip with Katie Foley, a teacher at Samoset Middle School — one of two LPS schools where Himmer does speech pathology, the other being Northwest Elementary School.

“I wish that my dad was here to see me carrying on the tradition that he started for our city,” Himmer said of her and Foley taking Samoset students down to D.C. every year. “It brings back happy memories of my dad and makes me proud to carry on this tradition by continuing the fun and by co-running the trip.”

She and Foley have partnered with Nations Classroom, “a wonderful company that allows for payment plans and is very easy to work with,” and they hold fundraisers a few times a year, including one coming up next month.

“We have been planning the trip as early as possible to allow families more time to plan,” Himmer said. “Last year we opened up registration in May with the opportunity for a fundraiser to allow parents almost a full year to pay for the trip.”

Leominster-based DeCarolis Insurance Agency has helped by providing one scholarship each year, which Himmer said, “has been a huge help in allowing us to continue this fund.”

“We are always looking for sponsors, and we will continue to provide as many scholarships as we can each year,” she said.

A family friendly line dancing fundraiser is slated for Saturday, March 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Eagles club on Litchfield Street, with Granite State Stomp “leading the fun for people of all ages” and there will be all kinds of raffle prizes.

“We are so grateful for them for supporting us and letting us use the hall for this event, allowing us to help more students,” Himmer said of the Leominster Eagles #477. “Last time the Texas Roadhouse Armadillo even came to dance! It was so much fun we couldn’t wait to do it again.”

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased for $15 a piece ahead of time by visiting https://tinyurl.com/5d39rwux. They also be available for $20 at the door and people can follow the Bill Macdonald Memorial Washington DC Fund and Samoset Middle School PTO Facebook pages for more information and updates.

This is the second line dancing fundraiser. Last year over 150 people attended the fun affair and Himmer is hoping for more this year.

“I appreciate everyone who supports us with donating funds, items for raffle baskets, as well as attending the fundraisers,” she said. “You do not need to have any dance experience to have fun. The teacher leads everyone from beginning to advanced and everyone has a great time.”

Her own daughter went on the D.C. trip with her two years ago and her youngest will get to go in two years.

“I always tell the kids that it’s funny that I met one of my friends at a payphone in D.C.,” Himmer said. “Kids now may not even know what a payphone is, things are always changing, but a lot of the memorable parts of the trip remain the same — a boat cruise, the national monuments, Arlington National Zoo with pandas, Arlington National Cemetery, a group photo in front of the U.S. Capitol, and the list goes on.”

Someone contacted her on Facebook recently and sent Himmer a picture of themselves taken in front of the Capitol building from their own eighth grade class trip in 1998. She said it means the world to her to know how many kids have gotten to experience Washington, D.C., because of her father — and that it’s important to her to continue to honor him this way.

“Anyone who knows me knows that my dad was my hero and I am always touched when people tell me that I am a lot like him,” Himmer said. “He was someone who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed, have your back when necessary, and was always patient and fair.

“It meant a lot to him to have this trip continue so that students can visit our nation’s capital, create lasting memories, and have fun at the same time,” she continued. “My daughter and I took a picture with his photo with the Washington Monument behind us, a nice moment for us as we continue to miss him every day.”