Dr. Everett G. Thistle
...former Mass. Deputy Commissioner of Education; 80
TEWKSBURY - Dr. Everett Garfield Thistle, 80, the former Superintendent of the TewksburySchool System, and retired Deputy Commissioner of Education for the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, died unexpectedly at his residence on Monday, Dec. 31. He was the husband ofNatalie (Smith) Thistle, with whom he had celebrated a 57th wedding anniversary.
He was born in Everett, March 4, 1921, a son of the late Richard and Elsie (Taylor) Thistle, wasraised in Everett, and lived in Middleton before moving to Tewksbury in 1948.
During WWII, Dr. Thistle served in the Army Air Force from 1942,until 1945.
Dr. Thistle resumed his war-time interrupted post-secondary education, receiving aBachelor’s degree in 1946 from Salem State College. He matriculated to Boston University,where he received a Master’s Degree in Education, and later a Doctorate Degree in Education in1954.
He began his career in the Tewksbury School Department as a teacher, served as a Principal, andlater as Superintendent of Schools. He retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,Department of Education as Deputy Commissioner of Operations. He later would serve asDirector of several special education collaboratives, and Director of Federal programs for theNorthern Middlesex County Regional School District. He also founded Northeast EducationAssociates, an education consulting firm, and worked as a consultant for National EducationProgram Associates and Educational Program Associates of No. Andover.
Dr. Thistle was an active member of the Tewksbury Congregational Church for more than 50years in many capacities, including the election as a Life Deacon in 1979. He was a member ofthe American Legion Post # 462, AARP, and the Tewksbury Golden Age Club. He was also anEmeritus Member of the American Association of School Administrators.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David Thistle and Anne (Burnham) Thistle of Tallahassee, Fla., two daughtersand sons-in-law, Janet E. and her husband John M. Fox of Houston, TX, and Ms. Martha J.Thistle of Tewksbury, two grandchildren, Jeffrey M. and Julia E. Fox, both of Houston, and onebrotherand sister-in-law, Rev. Dr. Richard C. Thistle and his wife Muriel (Hudson) Thistle, of LaPorte,Indiana.
Following cremation, a memorial service was held on Friday, Jan. 4, in the TewksburyCongregational Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to theMemorial Fund at the Tewksbury Congregational Church, East. St. Tewksbury, MA 01876, willbe appreciated.