Allegra '94 and Dennis Lavoie '77

"Teachers have been a great influence in the life of Dennis Lavoie ’77. My mother, Mary, was my first teacher, and she instilled in me a love of learning." At Fisher, Dennis encountered more teachers who would steer him toward a career that would use both his love of language and the teaching profession. After earning a degree in Spanish with a minor in French, Dennis received a master’s degree in Spanish at Middlebury University. He has enjoyed a long teaching career at Fairport Senior High School and is nationally certified in language education.

"When my mother passed away, I knew that I wanted to honor her memory and the profession she loved so much," says Dennis. “With the encouragement of my wife, I have provided in my will a generous legacy to endow the Mary Gadwood Lavoie Scholarship Fund to aid students pursuing a teaching degree in elementary education or foreign language. It’s a meaningful way to honor my mother, and it will support the growth of Fisher for generations to come.”