By Ellie Smith
Staff Writer 

Mark Lucey is retiring this month after 27 years working as a guidance counselor at Westford Academy. He has shared many fond memories with the teachers and students in the community and will miss working in the building.

After being a special education teacher for nine years, Lucey started working at WA in February of 1986 when Principal Jim Antonelli was finishing the second half of his senior year in high school at WA.

Lucey is retiring this year to be closer to his wife who has lived in Rockport, Massachusetts for the past two years because of her job in Gloucester. This long distance relationship made him retire earlier than he had anticipated.

Lucey has been legally retired since August but came back for the first few months of school for the seniors who are graduating this year. He plans to finish writing recommendation letters for seniors and get them ready to apply to college.

“Physically I won’t be here, but I am going to stay online and still counsel them with their college admissions,” said Lucey. “I will have a front row seat at graduation to celebrate their achievements.”

Though he may be retiring from WA, Lucey does not plan to stop working altogether. He hopes to work for a college in the area or in another field where he is interacting with others.

“I love people and being around people,” said Lucey. “So, I am open to all different opportunities. I’d be happy behind the counter of a small convenience store as long as I was out meeting people during the day.”

Lucey’s coworkers find themselves reminiscing about the frequent fond memories they have shared with him. Principal James Antonelli is among many who will greatly miss Lucey as he spends his last few days at WA.

“I can’t thank you enough for your friendship, your professionalism and just for being the person that you are,” said Antonelli.

Dean Betsy Murphy is also finding it hard to let go of the enjoyable past she shares with Lucey.

“There’s so many things to miss about Mr. Lucey. We are already missing him and he’s not even gone,” said Murphy. “He is just the most fun boss I have ever had.”

Lucey’s retirement will be bittersweet as he will miss many aspects of the job. Most prominently, he is going to miss the teachers, students, and staff that he works with everyday in the guidance office and the jokes and laughter that he shares with them.

“The Westford Academy students are just terrific people,” said Lucey. “I have had more laughs, more tears, and more tender moments that have enriched me beyond measure.”

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