Saturday, May 31, 2025
Joel and I met on his first day at Bucksport High School and for most of my 40-year teaching career, my classroom was one or two doors away from Joel’s. Almost from day one, it was clear that Joel’s easy-going manner and wonderful sense of humor captivated his students. I have to say I found welcoming a class to my room right after they had Joel’s class a true challenge because there was never any question our students wanted to be back in Joel’s classroom. That was the kind of magnetic personality Joel had and none of it was an act; his charisma, wit and warmth were completely natural. Through the years, in the classroom and in athletic endeavors of many types, Joel (Sank) continued to gain generations of students’ respect, not to mention the respect and admiration colleagues. This was eminently clear when in the early eighties, Joel coached winter track and was an assistant coach. I was enthralled by his approach to competition, knowledge of the sport and easy manner of directing his athletes. Those were good years for me watching this pro.
There have been only two people who address me as “Murauckas” rather than Leslie. My husband is one; he still does, never having been threatened by my keeping my own name upon marriage. The other person was Joel. After years of being a full-time director of Adult Education after leaving the classroom and then retiring, I hadn’t seen or caught up with Joel in years, maybe 15 or so since I last saw him. About a year or so ago we had occasion to talk on the phone. His first words to me were “Murauckas! Hey. How are you doing?” I laughed and laughed! So very Sankey!
Joel, Sank, Sankey was definitely one of a kind. He and his family must know after yesterday’s celebration of his life that he made a positive mark on the lives of so many in various settings and communities, not just Bucksport. What a wonderful legacy of a life so well lived! It seems to me that “celebration of life” is often just a euphemism for marking one’s passing; but this is not true about Joel Sankey’s celebration of life. It is patently clear that he lived a life worth celebrating genuinely and enthusiastically by hundreds and hundreds through five generations in Bucksport, many he touched before coming to Bucksport, and so many family and friends.
This man, Joel Sankey, so influential and unique, will not be forgotten
